Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:15-29 | CHOOSING LEADERS

I.  Introduction:

            Q  Who has been the most influential person in your life?

            Q  What is it that was so influential.  How did they influence you?

            Note:  We are influenced by others, by those around us and especially by those whose words we take seriously.  All of us have had good

examples and bad examples in our lives.

            Note:  The Key thing is that we are free to choose "who will influence us".  We can decide who will speak the truth about life and

about God.  This is Jesus' last teaching before His famous closing about "house built upon the rock".

             Jesus says we must pick our leaders and because He loves us He give us help in how to choose them.  

 

II.  The Warning:  "Practice" or "Action" Is The Key Factor.  Matthew 7:15-20.

   A.  The Basic Warning:  Matthew 7:15.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:15.

            Q  What is the warning?  What characteristic do such false proclaimers of God's Word have?

               An = They are not what they appear.  Key =  inwardly they are worse than they appear outwardly.   They appear as lambs, as

gentle but inwardly want to destroy or use you.

            Note:  Jesus will not just warn us to beware of false leaders but show us practically how to discover them.  So, He give us three words

of advice.

   B.  The Basic Criterion:  First Word of Advice, Matthew 7:16.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:16-18.

            Q What does He mean:  "You will know them by their fruits?"

               An = The answer is in what follows in the rest of verse 16 and the next two verses.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 7:16b-18.

            Note:  Jesus uses metaphors from the realm of nature:  He uses agricultural examples to illustrate His points.  You do not get grapes

from "Johnson grass".  Therefore what a man does is what he is.

            Q  Gals, should you believe everything a young man tells you?

               An = Many guys have a lot of "great lines".  Experience shows you to believe little of what you hear.  How a guy treats you is the key.

            Q  But in spiritual matters what fruit do we look for?  Doctrine?  Bible Quoting?  What fruit is being referred to?

               An = We are reading the Sermon on the Mount, and so what it teaches should be our guide to what should be in a person who tells us

about God.  Let me illustrate:  

            >> Have someone read Matthew 6:1  If they are do good things, do they show off?  If they do then beware!!  Do they tell you how

good they are?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 7:1-2  Are they constantly judgmental?  Then beware.  Are they always aware of others faults but

never their own?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 5:28.  Do they scope women down?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 5:4.  Ever notice that those who are often the most profound are those who are not free of

suffering?

            Note:  You see it would be good to really knows what Jesus says and wants so you can see if these qualities are in those who try and tell

you about God.  You have to know what Jesus says if you are going to be able to check fruit.  You can not look for good fruit if you do

not know what good fruit is!!!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:19-20.

            Note:  Note that Jesus again repeats, so we will not forget, what is so important in determining good leadership.  Check their fruit!  Not

how they talk but what is in their lives!

            Q What is Jesus saying in 7:19?

               An = That there will be judgment of those who do not live the life.  You see it does not matter what you think of me as your leader, but

what I really am.  I will be judged, as all leaders will be in the end of time by what we truly are!

            RQ  Are we not often more caught with how leaders "image" than who they really are?

            Note:  There will be a judgment and that includes us leaders.  Let us see how Bible study leaders, pastors, ministers, school

leaders, etc., will be judged.

            B.  Coming Judgment on Hypocrisy:  Second Word of Advice,  Matthew 7:21-23.

            Note:  Jesus is a good teacher.  He uses in the next few verses a very affective teaching devise:  an imagined "time-travel" into the

future.  He will transport His audience to the end of time and let them see the final judgment.  This is so we can make good judgments now, since we are

aware of what the "real or final" judgment will be based on. 

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:21.

            Q What does this verse mean?  What does the phrase "Lord, Lord" mean?

               An = In Israelite society of that time they were forbidden to speak divine Name for God:  "Jehovah", "Yahweh" or "Yahve'" because they

did not want to "take the Lord's Name in vain".  If they did not speak the Name, they were less likely to violate its sanctity.  Whether that was the best

way to obey the third of the Ten Commandments is debatable, but what it did to their reading of the Old Testament is interesting and has bearing on our

understanding this verse.

            Through out the Old Testament is the phrase in Hebrew:  "adonnai, Yahweh".  Simply translated:  "Lord Yahweh", in our English

translations:  Lord God.  What it meant is:  "Yahweh is Lord".  The verse "to be" if often left out in Hebrew.  So "Adonnai Yahweh" is a confession of

faith:  "I confess that, Yahweh, He is Lord".  

            However, since the Jews would not say the word:  "Yahweh" anymore, the phrase someone would hear in a Jewish synagogue service was: 

"Adonnai, Adonnai" or "Lord, Lord", or in Greek:  "Kurie, Kurie", or in the new coming Christian communities:  "Jesus is Lord", or "I confess Jesus is my

Lord and Savior".  "Lord, Lord" in the ancient communities was a confession of faith, of professed loyalty to God.

            Q  So what is Jesus saying in Matthew 7:21?

               An = Just saying I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, or just confessing Jesus Christ as my Savior will not be enough.  "Not

everyone who says to Me, I am Lord, will enter in the kingdom of heaven."

            In other words, there will be folks who confess, even to God that they believe and will not be a part of God's kingdom.  That applies us

to ministers as well.  I can proclaim God, prayer to God all I want, but it will not be enough.

            Q  So what else is needed according in 7:21?

               An = We have to actually do the will of God who is in heaven.  

            Q  So what is verse 21 saying in a nut shell?

               An = It does not matter what a prophet, a leader, a teacher confesses but also what he or she does!  CHECK THE FRUIT!!

            C.  Not the Spectacular Gifts, But Faithful Obedience/Submission:  Third Word of Advice, Matthew 7:22-23.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:22-23.

            Q  What is this final warning about?

               An = This seems confusing.  Lets break the metaphor down.

            Q  What four things did these people do in God's Name?

               An = Confess Him, prophesy in His Name, cast out demons, and do miracles in Jesus' Name.  Those who do such things must certainly be

true teachers of the will of God!!!

            Q  Does Jesus agree?

               An = Seemingly not!  Note:  In the early church the most powerful spiritual gift was the gift of prophesy (I Corinthians 14:1), being

able to speak forth the will of God by divine aid from God.  Prophesy is a public gift and the greatest of them all.  Notice that casting out demons and

doing miracles are also public displays of God's power working through an individual.  Note:  If God speaks through us, or does a miracles or casts out a

demon through us does not make us great men or great women of God.  To be able to do these things is a gift from God.  It is God who is great, not us who

pass along that gift.

            The key is not is God using us but are we truly obedient to Him!

>>>> Re-read Matthew 7:23.

            Q What does Jesus mean:  "I never knew you?"

               An = He did not know us personally.  So even if we did the great spectacular works of God, but did not know Him we will be judged. 

What does it mean to know Him?  They key is in the last phrase, and sadly it could be better translated.  The NIV says you are "evildoers" and that is OK

but the better translation is "depart from Me you who are lawless".  In other words, if My Word does not have authority over your actions then you are not

"under the law", you are in rebellion.  In other words, WE MUST HAVE FRUIT as described in the Sermon the Mount, not just successful

service!!

>>>> Have someone read Luke 6:46.

            Q  So how do we determine who should guide us and influence us?

               An = Do such leaders actually listen to Jesus' teaching, do they have the fruit described in Matthew 5-7.  It is not enough if we make a

Christian confession or even are used of God in a mighty way, but whether we actually obey the teachings on the Sermon on the Mount.

            Q Is Jesus against miracles or confession of Faith?

               An = Of course not!  In chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew Jesus will do large amounts of miracles and exorcisms.  He is just saying, there is

no short cut to obedience.

 

III.  Conclusion the Sermon On the Mount:  Matthew 7:24-29

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 7:24-27

            Q  How does one build their rock or their live on solid rock?

               An = He who hears and acts upon the words in this sermon.  It is not "being a Christian but actually obeying the words".

            Q  Does this metaphor refer to this life or the life to come?

            Q  Is there an option to obedience.

               An = It is so sad to read "and great was its fall".  It is not optional.      

>>>> Have someone read in conclusion Matthew 27:28-29.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:7-14 | PRAYING EFFECTIVELY

I.  Introduction:

            Today we are going to talk about prayer again.  Jesus' instructions about prayer and not lofty but down-to-earth.  He seems to anticipate

our practical problems in prayer.  In this section, He ties prayer, which is our relating to Heaven, very much to our relationships here on earth.

            Q  Do you know people who do not pray, do you know why?

            Q  Do you know how many educated people (non-believers) explain prayer (like Freud)?  What are their theories?

            Q  Do you know people who believe that prayer simply does not work?

            Q  Could share with us a time when you could have did not pray for something that was very important in your life?

            Q  Why do we Christians sometimes not pray, even when we are in a tight spot?

            Note:  Quickly, honestly share a couple of times when you did not pray when you should have?  Time them why.

            Q  Are their times when you did not pray?  Why?

            Note:  Jesus is going to address some of the reasons we do not pray....

 

II.  Instructions on Prayer:  Matthew 7:7-12

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:7-8

            Q  What do you think Jesus is teaching here?  What is His main point?

               An = He is encouraging us to truly ask for what we want, what we need to find (whether guidance or insight or a certain person) and

what we need opened to us either in the way of insight, opportunity, etc.  Jesus really wants us to ask, seek and knock!!!!

            Q  Has Jesus lied?  Has He told the truth?  Do we always receive, find and have opened to us what we seek?

            Q  Why not?

            Q  Do you think Jesus was aware of our coming or His disciples present experience?

            Q  Did He know these words could wind up causing much doubt or least frustration?

            Q  Why did He do it?

               An = Remember, Jesus is quite intelligent, and aware of how you would react, so now that He has your attention, He is not through

teaching on prayer....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:9-11

            Note:  We have another difficult and fairly complex metaphor here, so we should again unpack what the metaphor means before we

proceed.

            Q  Verse 9 is a rhetorical question asking the person hearing to think or ponder something, what does Jesus want us to ponder?

               An = Do fathers give cruel gifts.  Bread is a reasonable request from the mouth of a child and no father would cruelly give his son a

stone.  The boy is hungary, he cannot eat a stone.

            Q  Verse 10 is another rhetorical question, again asking the listener to think or ponder, what does Jesus want His audience to ponder?

               An = Again, do fathers give their children cruel gifts.  A child asks for fish (for protein) and he will not give him something that is not

only inedible but would bite and possible kill him would he?  To give your child a snake would be cruel indeed.

            Q  Jesus is now applying His double (parallel) metaphor or two rhetorical questions in verse 11, so who does the father represent?  Who

does the child represent?

               An = God is represented by the father and we are represented in the metaphor by the child.  So far, so good....

            Q  What is Jesus telling His audience about God and us?

               An = Good fathers, and God is the ultimate Good Father, do not give their children gifts that would harm them.

            Q  So how does this relate to Jesus teaching on prayer in verses 7-8 and why does He immediately follow His great promises with these

three verses?

               An = He is wisely qualifying His promise.  God would never give us what we ask for in prayer if it would hurt us.  We may ask for

wealth or health and He might know that would hurt us.  Remember Paul?  He was the most successful of ministers, great evangelistic success, he

healed countless people, had great revelations, he could have so easily drifted into pride, so God "gave" Paul a "thorn in the flesh".  Paul prayed three

times and God did answer and the answer was no.  The physical illness, whatever it was, kept Paul from pride and kept Paul spiritually safe.  Jesus loves

Paul and did not want his use as a minister to ruin him.

            Note:  Share an example where you did not receive something you thought was good and later learned God knew better.

            Q  If there someone hear who has had a similar experience?

            Note:  Jesus seems to be boldly encouraging us to ask, seek and knock in verses 7-8 and He is giving us even more reason to be bold in our

asking, seeking and knocking.  Now we can ask, seek or knock with confidence because if we ask for something or seek for something that would harm us

He will filter our prayers.  We cannot hurt ourselves when we pray.  We can come boldly to the throne of grace!  God is intelligent and good.  He

is not a "force" but a "Person" and persons know how to give good and appropriate gifts to those they love.  Ask, seek, knock.  He will answer!

            Note:  One would think the issue of prayer is closed, especially when we read the next verse, but I think Jesus wants us to include verse

12 with the other verses.  Let me show my reasoning and you see what you think....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:12

            Q  Why does Jesus open verse 12 with the word, "therefore" (NASB) (King James), or "so" in (RSV) or (NIV) or (Jerusalem)?  (The greek

indicates the word "therefore" or "so" should be there and all good english translations have it.)

            RQ  Is Jesus seeing verse 12 as a conclusion to what went before this verse?

            Q  What is Jesus saying in this famous "golden rule"?

               An = Treat people like you would like them to treat you this is key in all of the Old Testament (that is what "the Law and the Prophets"

meant in those days).  Jesus is saying be aggressive in goodness, not passive.  Do not obey because you have to, but obey aggressively because you would

like to be treated this way. 

            Q  How does this verse apply to verses 7-11?

               An = We should ask, seek and knock in prayer for others in the same way we would like them to do for ourselves.  Our prayer life should

not just be for ourselves.  It should be done aggressively and confidently for others.  We would like others to pray that way for us.

            Q  Does verse 12 apply to the instructions in verses 1-6, and if so how?

               An = We should judge others in the manner we would like to be judged (7:1-2).  We should correct others after we have seen our own

faults, just like we would like others to do (7:3-5).  We would should correct others with wisdom lest we get hurt just like we would others to be

careful when they correct us and we are as dumb as a dog or dirty as a pig because we would feel horrible if turned and ripped someone (7:6).  They guilt

would be terrible.  If we corrected someone without care and they exploded on us, it would make a good person (presently in a state of "pigness") feel

horrible.  Any good spouse knows this, especially if they have married well, and love their spouse.

            Q  Let me stretch one bit further, does our overly judgmental spirit hinder our prayers?              Q  Does our lack of caring for

others on earth make us unfit to receive gifts from heaven?     Q  Does our inappropriate handling of our neighbor adjust what and how God can give to

us?

 

III.  Partial Conclusion:  Matthew 7:13-14.

            Note:  The next two verse are on different agenda.  They open with a new commandment.  They seem to be both a warning and an

encouragement.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 7:13-14.

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?

            Q  What is He saying about the "way to life" that He has been proposing in the last three chapters?

               An = It will not be the "majority" path.  You will be in a "moral minority".

            Q  Do you think this is true among Christians themselves?

            Q  How do you feel about following a path that is not in the "main spring" of humanity or for that matter the "main path" of even the

church?

            Q  Does it scare you or challenge you?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:1-6 | WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  Today we will deal with some of Jesus' teachings on how to regulate our relationships with others (so certainly this would apply to

church).  At times Jesus' teaching seems to be so demanding, yet it is incredibly liberating and balanced.  We are going to look at an issue that has

caused much damage to many in the church.  Jesus' teaching, if followed, I believe, would liberate groups (like church settings) but it would primarily

liberate the individual.   The issue is judgmentalism.

            Q  Is there judgmentalism in churches you know of?  Raise your hands.

            Q  What sort of things are judged or what things seem to have given rise to such an attitude in your experience?

            Q  How many of you know individuals who no longer go to church because they are tired of being judged, or feel a judgmental spirit? 

Would anyone like to share an example?

            Q  Have you ever felt judged?  Would you like to share your experience?

            Q  Has such an experience hurt you spiritually?  Why?

            Q  How many of you know someone who was judged falsely?  Can you give an example?

            Q  How should people act in church?

            Q  What makes people become judgmental, in of all places a church, the "teaching place of grace"?

                        Note:  Our study will focus on what Jesus says on this issue, and show how to obtain His goal.

            

II.  Basic Imperative And The Basic Rule.  Matthew 7:1.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:1.

            Q How does Jesus approach the issue?

               An = Jesus says just do not do it.  

            Q Does Jesus give us a reason for not judging?

               An = Yes, and it is a personal one.  You will judged if you do it.  What goes around, comes around?

            Q  What does it mean to you, we will be judged, if we judge others?

            Note:  Whatever we do, it will come back on us.  It can come back on us in my understanding in two ways.

            1)  Those who are most negative and most condemning of others faults seem to get the most criticism behind closed doors.  It would make

us shutter if we knew what others said and thought behind our backs.  Ever noticed that those who give the most slack, receive the most.  If you look for

the good in others they somehow find it in you.

            Q  Have any of you experienced this?

            2)  If we judge others God will judge us.  Remember what the Lord's prayer says:  God will forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12),

and so here God says, God will judge us as we judge others.  In other words, God will exact revenge on us for what we have done.  He will bring

justice.

            Q  If this is true what will happen to a lot of judgmental people who now go to church?  Do you believe this?

            Note:  A lot of good, evangelical Bible believing christians say they believe the Word of God.  I am one of those.  If we say this than we

must realize that if we are judgmental and think it will not come back on us then we really do not believe the Word of God.

 

III.  Reason For Obeying.  Matthew 7:2.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:2

            Q  Jesus has already told us the reason for not judging, why does He repeat it here?

               An = Remember in Jesus thought, if something is repeated it is being emphasized.

            Q  How many times is it repeated?

               An = Actually, Jesus gives the "motive clause", the reason for not judging three times.  So it is not only very important to realize this,

but "very" important to realize this.

            Note:  There is something in Jesus' thought that we often take for granted, but it would be good to realize, and think of often.  When Jesus

gives us commands (whether negative or positive ones) He follows His commands or prohibitions with reasons.  Jesus respects our ability to think. 

He appeals to our reason.  His commands are "reasonable", and He wants us to know why He asks us to do things.

            Q  How would we apply this reason?  How do you judge in the way you want to be judged?  How is that done?

            Q  Have you ever experienced some one being gracious to you when you seemingly failed?        Q  Can you give an example when

someone gave you slack, or looked for the best?

            >>>> Have someone read Romans 14:10-12.

                        Q  Does Paul agree with Jesus?

                        Q  What is Paul's emphasis?

 

IV.  Do not Judge, But Correct Yourself.  Matthew 7:3-6.

   A.  Be Self Corrective First.  Matthew 7:3-5.

            Q  If we do not tell others what harms them, then could we be justly accused of not loving them?  What do you think?

            Q  Do you believe it is true, "we correct those whom we love"?  

               An = You who are school teachers.  If you care about your students, then you correct them not judge them.  If you are parents you do not

condemn your child but guide them into correct paths if they are doing things that could harms them.  If you are a good friend at school, you would not let

your friend wear something totally out of style and let them look like a jerk.  We correct those we love.  

            However, there is a right and a wrong way to do that.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:3-5.

            Note:  Imagine walking with a log in your eye.

            RQ Ever seen pictures of ancient Jews?  

                        They all had these amazing pieces of wood sticking out of their eyes.  It is horrible to see.  Everyone is always cut up and

bruised because they were always getting beat up with those logs every time someone turned their head.  It is terrible to look at those pictures.

            ????  Seriously, Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He is exaggerating to make a point.  Let me retranslate what I think He was saying in

modern metaphors.

            "Why do you look at the speck of sand in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the surfboard in your own.  How can you say to your

brother, `Let me take the speck of sand out of your eye, when all the time there is a surfboard in your own eye.'  You hypocrite, first take the surfboard

out of your own eye, then you can see clearly to remove the sand from your brother's eye.

            Q  What is our Lord asking us to do?  What is He saying here?  

            Q  How do you properly correct?

               An = We can really help someone if we help them get a piece of sand out of their eye.  Sand hurts.  Jesus we help others more

proficiently by "cleaning up your own act first".

            Q  Why is it that we readily listen to those who will first confess their own faults?

            Note:  Some might say Jesus is not telling us to "clean up our own act first", but really not to correct at all....  Lets see if Jesus means

this.

   B. Use Wisdom, Realize the Cost.  Matthew 7:6.

            Q  Is the best way to handle others sin is not to ever say anything at all?

            Q  Is the best way to handle life as a Christian to become a mush-brain.  To really follow Jesus must we become brain dead?

               An = I do not think so, Christians who discipline themselves to obey the teachings of Jesus do not become rubber brains but quite the

opposite.  They become wise, insightful people.  Let me show you Jesus' balance, lest you think they way of obedience is to not think.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:6.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is again using a metaphor.  Notice that this metaphor is in parallel form.  So lets look at what is parallel to

what?

            Q  What is parallel to pearls?

               An = What is sacred or what is holy.

            Q  What is parallel to dogs?

               An = pigs, and in Jesus' society pigs and dogs were considered the lowest form of mammals.  

            Note:  Also, in a metaphor, a physical object often represents a spiritual idea.

            Q  So what do the dogs or pigs represent?

                        Q  What does pearls represent in your opinion?

            Q  What is Jesus saying with this metaphor?

               An = Jesus is saying do not give what is valuable to "spiritually imperceptive persons".

            Q  How do we know someone is spiritually imperceptive?

               An = Their eyebrows of course.  All folks who are spiritually dull have green eyebrows.  Don't look at that person next to you!!!! 

Seriously, ....

            RQ  To determine who is spiritually perceptive and do not have to make a judgment?

            Q  Do you think Jesus is aware that He has do not judge, lest you be judged in 7:1 and then said judge lest you be attached in 7:6?

               An = He is totally aware and He seeks our balance.  At times we need to judge, but we do not need to be consumed, like many become,

with a "judgmental attitude".

            Note:  Since Jesus is aware that He is speaking 7:6 in the context of 7:1-5, there could be another insight here....

            Q  In this context, what is the valuable thing, the pearls, we are not to throw to pigs?

               An = In this context, it would be correction.  The taking of the speck of dust out of our fellow man's eye.

            Q  If someone corrects you, do they take the risk of being ripped?

            Q  When you correct someone, do you not take the risk of being ripped?  

            RQ How happy are we with our parents when they correct us?  Do we not rip them?

            RQ How angry do we get when we get critique at work, or at home?

 

                        Note:  At times we need to take risks.  But when we take those risks we need to remember that in the

same way we judge, we will be judged and that we need to clean up our own act first.

               Note:   Jesus says do not judge in 7:1 and that you have to judge in 7:6.  Jesus wants balance and freedom.  We have to make

judgments at times for our own safety, but He does not want us consumed with negative judgmental behavior.

            Note:  Jesus wants us healthy and that is because of His deep love for us.

>>>> Close with reading Romans 15:1-2.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:19-34 | DEALING WITH MONEY AND ANXIETY

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  We are going to take today about money and anxiety!  So many of us are captive to anxiety.  Jesus ties these two issues together. 

However, once He has brought up the issue of money, He goes on to deal in more detail with what causes our anxiety, and it is not money itself.  Jesus'

words may sound uncomfortable at first but they hold out to us the hope we need in dealing with worry.

            We live in a very materialistic society, and yet since we are beings with bodies as well as a soul, I think these issues have always been

relevant in all types of societies.

 

II.  The Issue of Proper Focus and Its Results:  Matthew 6:19-24.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:19-21.

            Q  What does verse 21 mean?

               An = The word "heart" in Hebrew means not just "emotions" but includes the "mind" as well.  In the Old Testament it is often translated

as "mind".  However, since our mind includes the emotions as well as intellect the word "heart" can be understood by our English word "consciousness". 

Jesus says what we really value is shown to us by what comes to our consciousness most often.

            RQ  What has preoccupied your mind lately?  Is it finding a mate, a boyfriend, a certain girl, a job, financial pressures, a boat, a car, a

promotion?

            Note:  What we really treasure is where our heart is.  I remember taking my wife on our first over night vacation months after our first

son was born.  We were going to Mariposa (outside of Yosemite, which is beautiful) for a much needed rest.  Our parents had our son and they were

excellent baby sitters with plenty of experience.  However, we did not get to the end of the afternoon when my wife persuaded me to go back.  Her

treasure was not in her needing an exciting, romantic, relaxing time, her treasure was that little boy!  Her reaction is totally correct, totally

understandable and quite proper in Jesus' way of thinking!

            I often have had my wife's priorities concerning our children, but I also must confess that money pressures, career opportunities, success

at the job have often been where my mind is.

            RQ  What is our treasure, because is that not where our heart or consciousness thinking is centered?

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:19-20.

            Q  Where is Jesus telling us not to have our treasures?

               An = Not in things that are temporal.  It is not because Jesus does not want us to enjoy or have earthly treasures, but because if they

become central we will be disappointed.  Such treasures will disappoint because they will not last.  Jesus wants us to enjoy forever what we have

set our hearts on!

            It is an obvious fact of life, though one we often refuse to admit, that things in this earthly life are not lasting.  The closer we come to

death, the truthfulness of what is said here becomes more and more obvious. 

            RQ  If you win souls to Christ, or help others stay healthy spiritually, beings that will last forever, is not this the more valuable way to

spend one's youth?

            RQ  If this truth is so obvious, why do we human beings not see it?

            RQ  Why are we so caught up with things that are so obviously temporal?

            Note:  Perhaps, the answer is in what follows....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:22-23.

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?  How is the eye the lamp of the body?

            Q  What does a lamp provide?

               An = light so that we can see.  We cannot see if there is no light.

            Q  So what happens if your eye is bad?

               An = The eye (if good) is the window (so to speak) for images to be seen in your brain.  If your eye is defective, your brain cannot "see"

images.  So if your eye is bad you are blind. 

            Note:  Jesus is not talking here about literal eyesight, but spiritual or intellectual sight.  Eyes in the Old Testament are the metaphor for

"perceptiveness".  We have a little of this in English when we say:  "Oh, now I see".  If one sees then one perceives, one understands.  If one has good

eyes that can see, then one can perceive the truth.  If we have eyes that cannot see then we have no ability to see the truth.  

            A seminary friend once said:  "The jaundice eye always sees yellow."  In other words, if your blood is tinged with jaundice (a yellowing)

then what you see is filtered through a yellowed lens.  Everything you see will be yellow.  Similarly, Jesus says in Matthew 20:15 that man cannot

understand certain good actions if his "eye is envious".  In other words, envy takes away proper perspective, proper understanding.  So here, one's ability

to see truth can be blinded by having the wrong treasures.

            If you choose in faith to value eternal treasures then you will "see life differently".  It is a risk, however, to value eternal things over

things we can count, touch, and physically see.  It is a "gamble", if you want to use a different word, that there is a heaven, a hell, and a God of

righteousness who will guarantee our eternal reward.

            Q  Can we be perceptive if we have wrong treasures?

            Q  Is having proper treasures optional?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:24.

            Q  Is an eternal perspective optional?

               An = God and money (the definition of "mammon") cannot both be worshipped.  They will rival one another and a choice will have to be

made.  Money can become an idol, a rival god.  (I am sure Jesus' audience was automatically reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:5:  "And you shall love the Lord

our God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your might."  The average Israelite knew "idolatry was not an option".  If was not an option,

then nor is it one now.

            Q  What if one cannot "see" that we cannot love both?

 

III.  Basic Needs and Anxiety:  Matthew 6:25-34.

            Q  How many of you have met Christians that are impractical and never handle their finances properly and call it faith?

            Q  How many of you know young people, who are naive, and do not think about the fact that bills do not pay themselves, will let you pay

them, but then challenge you to have faith?

            Note:  If you have met such folks, it is hard to take them seriously, however, one can be responsible and have faith.  In fact, one has to be

responsible because whether one is a good Christian or not one still has to eat, to put on clothes, etc.  Whether we are spiritual or not we have a body, a

physical body, and it needs to be fed and clothed.

            If our body does not get fed or clothed, we die....  It is natural to be concerned about this, it is natural to have anxiety about our basic, daily

needs.  Jesus knows this, anxiety is a real part of dealing with the reality of meeting our daily needs.  So when He challenges us to be free of the love of

money, He knows that what He is telling us could make us more open to anxiety.  It takes money, "mammon" to survive.

            So Jesus addresses the issue of anxiety....

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:25.

            Q  What behavior is Jesus forbidding?

               An = Anxiety, or worry about this life as to how we shall eat, drink, or be clothed.

            Q  How many times is the word worry or anxiety found in verses 25-34?

               An = I count 5 times:  25,27,28,31,34.  Obviously the next few verses are all about handling anxiety, worry or apprehension concerning

our daily needs.  Jesus does not want us to be naive, or irresponsible, but free and for good logical reasons.  Reasons we shall soon see.

            Q  Towards the end of verse 25, Jesus asks a rhetorical question (one that asks one to think about an issue, not formulate an answer)? 

What is that question asking us to think about?

               An = Is not life what we are more than the things that help it survive?  Is not life more than just existence.  

            Note:  Those who know this truth the best are often those who have excess of money.  So many European and American (or rich Asian)

youth are so easily depressed, and have lost interest in life because they have plenty of food, plenty of clothes, but life is more than these.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:26-30.

            Q  What two things in nature does Jesus ask us to observe and ponder?

               An = birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

            Q  What can looking at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field teach us?

               An = That God provides for them and they do not have barns or treasuries and though the lilies are incapable of clothing themselves they

are more beautifully attired than the wealthiest man on earth could accomplish.  

            Q  Does anxiety help?

            Q  If anxiety cannot help, why do we humans do it?  

            Q  Why do so many of us ruin our health, our joy, our enjoyment of what we do have with anxiety when worry does not help?

            Q  How would Matthew 6:21-23 answer that question?

               An = We have the wrong treasures, non-eternal treasures, and it has blinded us to reality.

            Q  When we are anxious or consumed with worry, whom have we effectively proclaimed that we do not believe in?

            Q  Whom do we not have faith in?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:31-32.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us not be consumed with worry in the beginning of verse 32?  What is His negative motivation?

               An = We are like the Gentiles (the non-believers, who do not know the beauties of God as revealed to His people).  We are pagan.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us to be free of worry in a positive sense at the end of verse 32?

               An = Realize who God is.  Not only does He exist, but He is aware of(intimate with) our needs.  If we have the right view of God it will

change us.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:33-34.

            Q  Remember Jesus opens this section in verse 19-20 talking about having the proper mental focus, what are we to focus on here in

verse 33?

               An = The reign of God and being righteous.  If we focus properly all these valid, basic needs will be taken care of.

            Q  What does it mean to "seek the kingdom and His righteousness"?  What does that mean for you?

            Q  What are we not to focus on according to verse 34?

               An = What we cannot control, namely tomorrow.  

            Q  Why is it not good to worry about tomorrow?

>>>>  Have someone read Proverbs 18:10-11.

            Q  How do these two verses relate to Jesus' discussion?

            Q  Has God changed?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:5-15 | PRAYER

I.  Greetings and Introduction:

            This week we will look at how to pray.   This section contains teaching on our attitude towards God when we pray, a model prayer (which

is the Lord's Prayer) and Jesus' own commentary on the Lord's Prayer.

            Our study will therefore include three sections:  words of wisdom on prayer (7-8), the Lord's Prayer (9-13) and Jesus' commentary on what

is very important to Him about His prayer (14-15).    

            Note:  One of the most famous passages in the New Testament is the Lord's Prayer However, what is familiar can easily become

meaningless and we miss what is actually before us.   

II.  Instructions on Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-15.

            A.  A Word of Wisdom From Jesus About Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-8.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:7-8.

            Q  Is Jesus forbidding us to repeat a prayer?

               An =  Jesus is not saying that you cannot repeat a prayer.  Jesus repeats a prayer many times in the Garden of Gethsemane (in the very

book of Matthew, i.e. 26:36-42 and see also Luke 11:5-10).  He is saying do not take God for a fool.  You cannot make God respond with a lot of words.  He

is an Intelligent Being.  He wants us to pray to Him as an intelligent being just as you want your children or your friends to talk to you.

            RQ  Would you not be offended if a friend asked a favor sixty times, thinking that was the only reason you would respond?

            Note:  Oswald Chambers (Studies In the Sermon On the Mount, p. 60) reminds us that "God is never impressed by our earnestness."

            Note:  Then He shows us practically how to pray.  

 

III.  The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13

            A.  The Framework: 9 and 13b.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:9

            Q  According to this verse what is the purpose for giving this prayer?

               An = Notice that Jesus did not say "pray these exact words" but "pray in this way" or as the NIV says it:  "This, then, is how you should

pray".  So what pattern, or content should guide our prayer life.

            Note:  Jesus knows that his disciples knew many public prayers for they were beautifully spoken or sung in the great Temple or in

synagogue, what He is teaching is prayer for their private, closet prayer life as well.  It is perfectly alright to pray the Lord's prayer in public but it is

also a guide for our use in private prayer as well.

            Note:

            Before we go on, let me make one observation:  if one examines the structure of the Lord's prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13 we will find

a curious but clear structure.  So lets look at that structure.  The Lord's Prayer could easily be seen to have six parts in my opinion:  An Invocation,

Four Requests, and a Benediction.  Let me explain further.  

            Note:  Verse 9 opens the Lord's Prayer with what is commonly called an "Invocation".  

            Q  What is an invocation?

               An = It means to call upon, or address someone.  >>> Turn with me to Psalm 46:1 and let me read it to you. Notice God is

addressed as a refuge or shelter, now go over to Psalm 49:1,2 and lets read this.  Notice here is not God who is addressed but the peoples of all

stations.  Now go over to Psalm 50:1 and lets read it.  Here the invocation is to God but now a different aspect of God is addressed, His might and

power.  The invocation is an indication of who and what aspect of that person is being addressed.

            The Lord's Prayer opens with an invocation:  let us read it in English, and see what it means.

            Note: Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Lets break this down.

            --"Our Father"--God is understood as our "dad", in Aramaic it would be "Abba", or "Daddy".  In the ancient Jewish culture, Fathers deeply

loved their children and many Armenian families still understand how deeply the love can be towards "dad".  By calling God "our Father"  we are saying

we know God intimately, loving, personally cares for us.  He is not just God, but His my father!  As we draw closer to God we will increasingly feel

this closeness and this bond.  In my own case, as great as my grandfather and father were, God is more.  There is an intimacy that even supersedes that

closeness and love.

            Q God is not only called "our Father" but also what?

               An = Notice the next phrase, "who are in Heaven".  God is not only our father, but He is the Lord of the heavens.  He is not our personal

guru or divine pet!  He is in heaven, far away, and far above all that is on earth.  

            So, God is both intimate and God is great and awe-inspiring.  He is not only "immanent" but also "transcendent", above and beyond anything

a human being can imagine.

            Note:  To make sure we understand this, Jesus follows up with "hallowed be your Name", or "Holy is your Name".  He is to be sanctified and

holy in our understanding.  The Jews knew that to truly come before God with joy they needed to understand His Holiness:  >>>> Turn to

Psalm 34:3.

            Q So how do we pray?  In what manner or pattern do we open our prayers, in what attitude towards God are we to have when opening in our

personal, private prayer life?

               An = We should approach God with confidence that He is our father but that He is awesome in power!  He is both intimate and yet

almighty.  We should know that He deeply loves us, but that we are also addressing the Lord of the Entire Cosmos.  We should know that we are

approaching not only He who loves us but He who is to be worshipped in holiness.

            B.  The Body of the Prayer:  Four Requests:  Matthew 6:10-13a.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:10.

            Note:  Now we move onto the body of the Lord's Prayer.  It opens with a request in verse 10.  "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven."   May your kingdom come.  Where God is king then His will is followed.  We are being told to ask for God's lordship to begin.  

            Note:  Naturally, another way of saying this would be "may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".   You see if God is king in heaven

when His will is obeyed, then we are to ask God's will to be on earth.  May God have His way!

            Note:  Asking God's kingdom to come and then for His will to be done is an example of Hebrew parallelism.  Again to see how Jesus is

structuring His prayer, turn to Psalm 112:2,7.  See how the phrases are repeating some of the same thought in different ways.  Now turn to Psalm

114:4 for another example, Jesus is saying in verse 10 the same thing twice!  For Hebrews to Repeat a matter shows its importance!

            Q What is Jesus saying?  How should our prayers be like, if we follow His direction?

               An = Perhaps, another way of saying it would be:  May you be truly King, not only in heavens and in the ages to come, but with me on

earth, now.  It is a prayer of submission.  He must be king, not us.  His will, not our will, should dominate.  1)  Many people do not like to take the

Bible seriously because then we will know what God thinks and then if we are true Christians then we would have to conform.  If we say the Bible is not

true, then we can make up a god and what we wish him to want in our own image.  Also 2), many do not want to hear from the Holy Spirit, but want to do

what we want.  When we do this, we have made a god in our image.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:11

            Q What does the second request mean?

               An =  "Give us today our daily bread".  Notice we are to ask for our daily sustenance.  God does not say ask for luxury, but to ask for our

daily needs.  God does care about our needs and so He commands us to ask for them to be fulfilled.  What you really need you are to ask for.

            Q What would you think of the child who said:  "Dad, or Mom, give me five thousand dollars, so I do not have to be bothered with talking

with you again?

            Q Do you like being dependent on God?

               An =  So many times we want to be given our needs twenty years in advance, where God wants us to be daily dependent upon Him.  We

want security but He wants relationship.  What would we think of the child who said, "Forget-you parents, I just want enough money for the next twenty

years and I do not want to need to talk to you to again."  God wants us to daily come before Him with our needs.  Some people have called it living on the

edge.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the third thing we are to ask for?

               An =  The third thing we are to ask for is something that Jesus knows we need have need of:  forgiveness.  "Forgive us our debts, as we

forgive our debtors".   The Lord knows we need daily sustenance.  The Lord also knows we need to submit to His will, and He knows we need

forgiveness.  So, He says:  "Ask for it."  

            Note:  Notice of the four requests that we are going to look at in the Lord's Prayer, only this one has a condition.  God does not say, ask for

daily bread, but first fast six hours then I will supply your need.  He does not say ask for My will to be done only after you have given your tithe.  There

are no conditions attached to these requests but here there are stipulations.  There are conditions to forgiveness.  You must forgive those who have hurt

you.

            Note:  Charles Williams says the word "as" is the most terrible word in the English Bible.  It is so hard to forgive those who have hurt us,

but Jesus says it is not optional.  You must forgive to be forgiven.

            Q Why is it so hard to forgive?

            Q  Can we afford to forgive?  Can we afford to forgive those idiots at work?  Can we afford to forgive certain relatives?

               An = Strange question?  Not really!  Think of it this way, if we forgive, then the devil tries to tell us, we will be diminished.  We must

have our due!  Our debts must be recognized and covered.  Can we afford to forgive?  

            Q Can we afford to forgive?

               An = If we will forgive, will we not have faith in God?  If we have such faith we will not only not be diminished we will be like our

heavenly Father?   Note:  There is one difference to being like our heavenly Father, Chrysostom (p. 136) reminds us, that we have need of becoming

great, God already is!  He merely wishes to show us the way!

            Note:  There is another parallelism here (a contrasting one), i.e. forgiveness is spoken about twice, because forgiveness is very

important!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:13a.

            Q What is the fourth thing we are to ask our Father for?

               An = The fourth thing we are encouraged to ask for is also in parallel form:  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the

evil one".  We are to ask our Lord for help in temptation.  We are to anticipate and pray about the needs we have or others have in temptation and pray

before the trouble begins.

            EX  You can give an example of your own here.  The key issue is that one anticipates a problem and then begins to pray.

Time I realized I would be tempted to fight with a close friend, and so prayed that it would never happen, it didn't.  We are not asking God to give us

not temptation but to help us not to succumb!

            Note:  The real enemy is not those who hurt us, but the devil, the "evil one".  Satan tries to use the mistakes and selfishness of others to

tempt us, but the real enemy is the devil!  Beat the devil, you do not need to beat the one who has hurt you.

            Q The text does not say:  "Lead me not into temptation", "Let us not into temptation."  I believe this opens the door for us to pray not only

for ourselves but for our friends, our children, and relatives.  Perhaps, we need to begin praying for those we love when see them being drawn into

temptation.  Do not gossip about them!  Do not worry about them!  Pray for them!  It is the last thing the devil wants you doing.  Again, you

have a parallelism, a repetition, i.e. it is important to seek help for ourselves and others against temptation, through prayer!

            C.  The Closing Or The Benediction.  Matthew 6:13b.

>>>> If you have to recite or read from the "King James" version the benediction.

            Note:  Our prayer ends in some translations with "For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory forever".  This is the closing phrase,

the Benediction, the ending of the prayer.  Scripture has many of these types of closing and we usually end our Sunday morning worship service with one.

            Note:  Some of your translations do not have this part because some of the earliest manuscripts do not have this.  

            Note:  In affect, what this phrase is saying is that God totally in control, with endless might, power and glory.  So our part is to verbalize

this and acknowledge to the world that in Jesus is eternal power and glory.  It is true, what we need to do is to proclaim that truth to the world.  It

will help the world and most of all it helps us, ourselves, realize that this is reality.

 

IV.  Jesus' Own Commentary or Emphasis on His Prayer:  Matthew 6:14-15.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:14-15.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is referring back to only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the condition for our being forgiven?

               An = Forgiving others!  Jesus does not want us to miss that!  If we do, we can slip into being a hypocrite, a religious prig, a dead

person, who everyone sees as religious but is totally not pleasing to God.  We could totally miss the boat!

            Note:  So notice Jesus repeats the issue twice!  He loves us and knows our tendency to forget unpleasant issues.  Jesus speaks of this

issue of forgiveness four times.

            Note:  Notice, He first tries to persuade us with a promise in 6:14, and then He tries to persuade us with a threat in 6:15.  He promises

and threatens because He wants to persuade us to the fullest extent.

            Note:  Those of you who are teachers know that you have to motivate both ways to be affective with students.  

            EX  I used to assign some tremendously hard papers in my classes and I would promise them that if they did them they would never forget

what they wrote and it would be one of the best things they experienced in my classes.  I was right, it was true!  However, I would also say if you do not

do the paper you do not pass the class.

            Q  How many students would put a 75+ hours into a paper without the threat?  

               An = Not many.  But without the promise they would get discouraged when the going got rough.  We humans need both positive and

negative encouragement.  God knows this and so wisely, lovingly repeats only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

            Note:  Let me tell you a secret.  If you learn to forgive others who have terribly hurt you it could be the key to your spiritual success.  It

could be the key that unlocks your relationship to God.  It could make you real!

            RQ Who is it that has really hurt you?  

            Note:  Bring that person before your mind and then let me ask you another question!

            Q  Is Christ asking too much of some of you today?

               An = If we have been truly hurt by another human being, we need His supernational grace.  If we have been hurt deep enough, we

need help to forgive.  Our very chance at pleasing God depends upon it.  Some of you have been hurt so bad that none of can understand how deep that hurt

is, but God.  

            Note:  He understands, and He is present right now to begin the process you need to be free.

Sermon On the Mount | Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 | BEING RELIGIOUS OR BEING FREE

I.  Greetings.

 

II.  Introduction:

            Today we wish to see what else Matthew has to say to us about outward religious actions.  We want to talk briefly this morning on two

issues:  being religious and being free.

            Note:  When a child, I often spent the weekend at my grandmother house.  We often were asked to work:  dust the stairs, weed a few

small flower beds (essential work, you know, that had we not done them the entire house would have corroded and the house would have collapsed.  Ha!). 

But we did work, and then in the afternoon we got to go "downtown" (where the department stores were).  We took the bus to downtown.  If we had

worked we got $.50 to spend.

            Q  What was grandmother doing?

               An = Two things:  First, she was teaching us a work ethic.  I do not remember the stairs ever being overly dusty or the weeds

overgrown in the flower beds.  We needed to work more than the work needed to be done.  Second, she was teaching us good behavior had good reward.

            Q  What is the function of rewards?

            An =  Reward shows the will and pleasure of the rewarder.  It indicates what pleases them.  In my grandmother's case what pleased her

was actually very good for us.  What pleased her blessed us.  Not all authorities are that way, but it is that way in God's case.  What pleases God is what

winds up being for our best interests.  With that in mind let us read Matthew 6:1.  Here we have a key insight into how to obtain reward from God.  God

will reward us to let us know what pleases Him, and what pleases God will bless us!

 

III.  Basic Principal:  What God rewards is Hidden Religious Behavior.  Matthew 6:1

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:1.

            Q How can we lose our rewards in heaven, or how can we displease God?

               An = By practicing our good deeds before others so that they can see it.  

            Note:  God is warning us against losing our rewards in heaven.  We could do righteousness and yet lose all the reward from doing it.  God

does not wish that for us, and so He warns us.

            RQ Well you might ask, what good deeds and what do you mean practicing our good deeds "before" others.

               Note = Jesus will now follow in Matthew 6:2-18 and give three specific examples of how we are to live a righteous life but not do it as

a "spiritual premadonna".  Oswald Chambers would say, Jesus explains how to be religious without being a "religious prig".  Lets look at His first

example....

 

IV.  Illustrations of the Basic Principle:  Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18

            A.  First Illustration:  Matthew 6:2-4:  Giving to the Needy.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:2-4.

            Note:  One of the main ways to be pious in Jesus' day was to give to the poor.  Notice, Jesus assumes His disciples will be giving

for He says:  "When therefore you give to the needy...." and He repeats that phrase in Matthew 6:3.  If we are not giving to the needy then we are not being

properly righteous.  

>>>> Turn to Deuteronomy 15:7-8 and 10-11 and have two different people read these verses...

            Q  What specific blessings attached to helping the poor.            

               An = The Lord will bless us in all your work and all your undertaking.  In others words, your career, will prosper (Deuteronomy 15:10)!

            Note:  However, according to Jesus, we could do it such a way as to lose all of our rewards from God.  Remember, Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus

is going to fulfill, not abolish the Law, He is going to complete it, make it perfect.

            Q Looking back to Matthew 6:2-4, do you see what the key ingredient is for giving to the poor?

               An = Doing it in secret.  Hypocrites, "religious prigs", "spiritual premadonnas" do it for show.  They want an audience.  All through the

Sermon on the Mount, we have and will see that to live out such teaching must be done through faith.  Faith, implies choice....

            Note:  A choice has to be made!!  What type of reward do you want:  God's or man's?

            Q Why does Jesus call those who chose the praise of men hypocrites?

               An = Because they chose the praise of men but "pretended" to be seeking the praise of God.  In short, they were putting on a phony,

unreal mask.  They were lying about their spiritual condition.  

            Q Ever noticed that you are often discouraged when you listen to someone tell you of all their good deeds?  Why is that?

               An = Encourage the group to give careful attention to their answers.  They could learn a lot here that would help them to be sensitive to

those in your group, family or church in the days to come.  Then, when they have given their points add:   

            RQ  Ever notice that some people are religious and being around them is like being in the presence of beauty, and it is an uplift?  

            RQ  Ever noticed that being around some people, who are so "righteous" is a repulsive experience.  

            Note:  It could be that they are pretenders, they are liars, and somehow being around liars who represent the God of truth is repulsive.  

            Q Does this sound harsh?  

               An = If you have ever had to suffer through such things, this is not too harsh.  Also, some of you do not want to have much to do with

religion, and it is not God you are upset with, but "religious pretence".  True religion is refreshing to those seeking truth (and infuriating to those who

hate truth).  True religion gets us to the true God.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:3.

            Q  What does this mean to you?

               An = Give and do not let your "right hand know what your left hand is doing".  Some scholars say "left-hand" in Arabic stands for your

best friend.  So your giving should be so secret that even your best friend does not know all that you do (Robert Gundry, p. 102). However, most likely it

means we should give without even being aware of the fact that we are giving.  Matthew is probably the best interpreter of Matthew!  Here is what

Matthew later says on this issue.

>>>> Turn to Matthew and you read to them 25:34-40.    <

go to Ecclesiastes 12.>>

            Note:  Notice that the righteous do not even know they have been doing such great things.

            Note:  Finally, realize that our Lord does see all and that though men do not know what we do, He does!   

>>>> Have someone read Ecclesiastes 12:14.

>>>> Have someone read John 4:24.

            Note:  Give, and keep quiet about it, it could start your worship towards being true worship, from deep within your spirit.  Some of us

today are caught, the beginning or real worship, truly pleasing God may begin not with excessive prayer, church attending, retreats, study, etc., but a

simple act of faith:  give and keep quiet!  We often want to be religious, Jesus wants us to have faith.  It is a choice to have faith, one you can make

right now.  We should be aggressively be about giving to the needy but aggressively be about keeping it secret.

            (There is a wonderful book written on this subject called the Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas, it was a best seller in America for

18 months, and it has a follow-up book called Doctor Hudson's Secret Journal.)            

            B. Second Example of Being Properly Religious:  Prayer,  Matthew 6:5-8.

            Note:  Jesus gives us the second important "pious" act:  that of prayer.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:5-6.

            Q Do you see the same pattern here with prayer as found above with the issue the of giving to the needy?

            Note:  Again, Jesus demands His followers make a choice:  whether to be private or public.  Private prayer brings reward from God

public brings reward from men.  

            Q Is Jesus demeaning public prayer?

               An = Absolutely not!!  There are many places where public prayer is encouraged and we have records of some of Jesus' public prayers. 

The issue is ostentatious pretence.  The real issue is whether we pray to be "seen by men" or "seen by God".  We should never be afraid to be seen by men

as those who pray (see Matthew 5:13-16), but we should be those who hid the bulk of our prayer life.  Prayer meetings are fine, but private prayer is

essential.

            Q Why is Jesus so hard on those of us who want a little recognition?  Why is Jesus so hard on us being "appreciated" for the good things

that we do?

               An = The answer is that He loves us.  If we want to "free", if we want to be "real" then do your righteous acts privately and then you

will know who you are!!  You will find out what your real motives are.  You will be righteous because you truly want to please God and for no other

reason!  You do not want to be religious, you want to be real.

            B.  Third Example:  Fasting, Matthew 6:16-18.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:16-18.

            Q  What is the subject or religious action that these verses speak of?

            Q  What do you think of when you think of fasting?

            Q  Is it a common Christian practice?

            Q  What is it for?

               An = Again, when Jesus speaks of it, He is assuming that His disciples are doing it.  If you have not been involved with fasting, then it

is something you might need to start doing.

            Note:  The act of fasting must again, be done in secret.  You are to pretend, but pretend that you are not in the act of fasting.  Be cheerful,

dress well, put on a show, but not to be a hypocrite, but a true disciple.

            Q  So again, why do it, what is the reason or benefit of such a practice?

               An = Have someone make a list, while answers are being given and when they are through have them read that list back to the people.

            Note:  Surely, there are multiple good reasons for fasting.  It does give many people a read boost health wise, it gives us disciple and self

control, and it seems to aid our praying (Raul Ries once said "There is real power man, in fasting."  He then said nothing more but changed the subject.) 

Let me give you three concepts about fasting in the Bible.

            First, In the Old Testament there are no instruction about "how" or "how long" to do it.  The Old Testament does often tie it to repentance

and certainly to prayer.  But whether you drink juice, or drink just water, or fast from sun up to sun down, or 24 hours, or 72 hours, etc. is never spoken

of.  God has wisely left that up to us.  I know a one individual who fasted till noon everyday for weeks for their child, another man fasted days on end so

God would help his wife become pregnant, another fasted 5 days so his friend would not die of cancer, another fasted one day a week for the health of his

mother.  You make up the rules.

            Second, Oswald Chambers says it is a form of "concentration".  It helps the believer to know what he or she really wants, fasting helps

us concentrate on what is really valuable to us.  It is a choice to prioritize, and of course, that priority show never be shown off, it must be done in

secret.  If you do a group fast with your Bible study or with a group of friends it is not obviously a secret thing, but still a valid form of concentration. 

Your friends will know, but then, at least do not tell others beyond your group.

            Third, keep it secret.  Do it so you know what you really value and you know you want an answer to prayer if you will fast for the

answer.  It lets us know just how much you love someone or want forgiveness, or guidance but keep it secret.  You might need to get quite creative in

hiding it, but hiding it is so important.

            Keeping a secret can be so empowering, so ennobling, so life-changing.  Some of us are so desirous of being considered noble, of being

considered a woman or man of character, or of being regarded as "spiritual".   

            RQ  Would it not make more sense to be such a person rather than be regarded as such?

            You will be different if you follow His advice.  You will please Him, it will bless you!  You will be, and know one will know, but deep down

in the very depth of your being you have made a choice, a choice no one will ever know about, but God will see.  You will be noble, will be a person

of character, a truly spiritual individual. 

            The key is simple, it is handed to you in an earthly and accessible for to everyone, give and fast, but keep it quiet.  Choice to have faith,

choose that it is more important to please God than to show-off before others.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:31-32, 38-48 | JESUS AND THE LAW: Blessed Are The Peacemakers

I.  Introduction:  This story was relevant to me and so I used it, you would probably do better with a story of your own.

            Note:  I read a story from this week from Thomas and Cynthia Hale medical missionaries to Nepal for twenty five years.  In reading some

of their accounts of dealing with the practical difficulties of running a missionary hospital, Mr. Hale recounted a story of how the communists in the

seventies tried to destroy the work of the hospital.  As each encounter with the communists was narrated I tried to put myself in Mr. Hale's place: 

giving up my entire professional career for a foreign society, working and living in harsh conditions and working long hours and then having young, naive

students destroy it all in the name of ideology.  

            What surprised me was that I would have lost my temper and challenged the situation.  I then read how with patience, fairness, and

gentleness the crisis was averted and the hospital was able to continue its ministry to the sick and hurting of that society.  As I read a Scripture was

brought to mind:  "The anger of man, does not accomplish the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).  Let us see how Jesus would amplify this statement of

foregoing anger in two ways:

            Note:   We have noted that Jesus is showing us how to exceed the righteousness of the religion of His day.  He had a simple pattern that

we observed last week.  Jesus quotes the Law then gives His amplification or fulfillment of that Law often followed with additional helps.  We saw that

Jesus shows us three times how to "exceed" the Law so as to be under the reign of Jesus Christ.  So let us look at two three examples of this today.  

 

II.         No Divorce.  Matthew 5:31-32.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:32-32

            Q  Do you see the pattern?  Do you see the first three parts?

               An = Jesus quotes the divorce law in Deuteronomy 24:1,3.  He then says, "But I say unto you", and finally, Jesus radicalizes or "fulfills"

the law.

            Q  How does Jesus "fulfill" or "full-up" or go the very intent of the Law about divorce?

               An = Moses said you had to give the divorced woman a certificate, obviously, to protect and give her some legitimization.  Jesus is

going even further, the best legitimization for a woman to have in marriage is for not to be dissolved.  If she commits adultery, she obviously wants it

dissolved.  

            Q  Does this teaching make up uneasy?  Why?

               An = This teaching does have some advantages:  1) We have a society filled with children whose father's have left them vulnerable,

confused and and in some cases financially disadvantaged.  2) The best thing for a man is end his life is knowing he took good care of his children and

wife.  The best thing for a woman, and if you turn the genders around, a man, (which is legitimate to do because only men could iniciate divorce then, so

Jesus only addresses then men) is to make them secure.  3)  It so healthy for people to keep their vows, their promises.  Getting divorced, except for

unchastity or marital unfaithfulness, is breaking one's word.

 

III.  Overcoming Evil with Good.  Matthew 5:38-42.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:38.

            Q  What does this law mean?

               An = This is the famous Lex Talionis (found three times in the Old Testament, Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:20 and in

other ancient Near Eastern Law codes). The legal community has long seen this law teaches two things:  that misconduct should be punished, but the

punishment should fit the crime.  

            Q Is the Old Testament Law just into "justice" or does it also demand "mercy"?

               An = To answer this let us take a quick look back at the Law in Exodus.  Turn to Exodus 23.

                        >>> Have someone read Exodus 23:4,5,9.  Here we see that there is a commandment to have and extend mercy to

even those whom it does not justly belong.

            Note:  Jesus though, wants to "fulfil" or "exceed" this standard and watch what He does.  >>>> Read Matthew 5:39-42.

            Q Do these sound impossible or impractical applications?

               An = Encourage them to really tell the truth here.  These seem to be impractical.  Do not resist an evil person?  If you do not stop

bullies they just get bolder and worse.  What does Jesus mean here?

            Q What four practical examples of how not to resist evil are given in these verses?

               An = After they have listed the four go back and deal with each one.  He gives us four:   1) If someone strikes you on the right check

offer him the other.  This speaks of being insulted.  Do not return insult with insult, let them take another shot says Jesus.  2)  If someone wants to

take something of yours that is rightfully yours let them have it.  In the Israel one was forbidden to take a poor man's cloak.  If someone tried to sue for

your cloak you would easily beat them in court.  Jesus says let them take everything until you are naked.  3) If someone forces you to go a mile.  Roman

soldiers often made peasants in an occupied country carry their baggage.  Jesus says go the extra mile.  

            Q What do these three situations all have in common?  

               An = In all three cases following these ideas could leave us vulnerable and compromise our dignity.  It could leave us emotionally

naked.  How can we live if we are constantly insulted and the insults are not true or at least only partially true?  How can we have some of our dignity

taken away and not press our advantage to get it back?  How can someone take advantage of us and we not resent it?  This sounds impossible to do.

            Q Let me ask you another question.  What if someone has insulted us, or taken advantage of us and we insult back, get bitter or angry

resent their taking advantage of us?  Are we free?  Are we greater people?  

               An = Of course, we are not free, and of course, we do not witness for our Lord.  We are no different than the world.  What makes us

Christians is not that we give money to a church or good causes, go to church and have superior, biblical theology.  What makes us Christians is that we

love Jesus Christ.  We just do not do anything He tells us to do.  You know it gets worse...

>>>> Let me re-read Matthew 5:42.

            4)  Q How many of us know of relatives or friends who have relatives who would sponge off anyone, endlessly, until nothing remained

because they were so lazy.  

            An = It does not seem to be.  There are times when giving to some people is wrong and harmful, and Jesus is also aware of this.  However,

let me show you something.  Jesus is not counseling passivity.  He is counseling aggressiveness.  He is saying do not merely tolerate people who are

abusive, but go on the offensive.  Aggressively try to aid them.  Do not be a passive victim, but be an aggressive giver.  In all four cases you resist evil

not with bitterness, resentment or reprisal but you resist evil with positive action.

            1)  If someone one insults you, let them take another shot.

            2)  If someone tries to take your dignity in one area that is crucial to you, do not worry about them coming after even a more private and

necessary area of your life.

            3)  If someone miss uses your hospitality, or kindness aggressively give them more than they asked for.

            4)  No not be paranoid of the takers in this life.

            Q Can we afford to be emotionally naked?  

            Q A bigger question is, will God protect us, will we survive?

            Q Is there a God in Heaven who wishes to bless us with His commandments?  Are these blessings or sure-fire ways to be miserable until

we get to heaven?

            

IV.  Being Like the Father.  Matthew 5:43-48.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:43.

            Note:  The Law tells us to love our neighbors and hate those who are threats to our well being.  This sounds fair and correct.  But as you

might expect Jesus Christ wants more...

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:44.

            Note: It is one thing to not take revenge against enemies but to pray for them seems to be asking for too much.

            Q Is this practical?

               An = I have been trying this one.  It is!  I have to pray pretty hard sometimes, but it is amazing.  If you do it, you get a gift.  Let me

show how Jesus describes the gift.

>>>> Read Matthew 5:45-48.

            Q What is the gift?  What is Jesus holding out as a motivation in these verses?

               An = In 5:45, we can be sons of the Father.  We can be like Him.  In 5:46-47 we can be different from the world.  We can be more than

knee-jerk reactionists, we can be aggressive choosers, folks that are different.  Finally, in 5:48 we can be "perfect" like our heavenly father is

"perfect".  

            Q What does it mean to be perfect?

               An = The word has more the meaning of being complete, coming to fulfillment.  "teleos" moving towards a goal.  We are to be

purposeful people, complete people, full people, like the personhood of Almighty God.

            Q Will God take care of us if we do not resist evil?  Can we survive?

               An = >> read to them the following verses from Psalm 56:8-13.  If we do not resist evil, what will happen to us?  This might

be answered when we look at the one who told to do these things:  Jesus Christ.  What happened to Jesus for He lived out in His life what He is asking us

to do.  

            Q Will we survive emotionally or psychologically if we risk being made naked by certain people?

               An = The answer is really dependent on whether there is a God.  Will He really be there?   Do I really believe in God.  

            Q If we do believe how do we get the courage to follow what He asks of us?  How do we get motivated to even try obeying these

commands?

               An = Many of motivated in many ways but perhaps two thoughts can be briefly given:  how deep is my love for Jesus, and can my love for

Him, to please Him motivated me, also do I want to be like Him?

            Note: I can be very, very short tempered.  When I am threatened or verbally attacked or get excited about someone seeing my point of

view, I often get angry, aggressive, verbally abusive, etc.  Jesus' words stand in such contrast to my actions.

>>>> Let me read to you Matthew 5:5.

            Note:  I am beginning to understand that Jesus' words take great restraint, great discipline and great courage, great faith to follow.  I am

beginning to think "humility" is a power-virtue.  Mr. Hale was meek and he succeeded in bringing good doctoral care to his part of the earth.

            I want to grow to be like Mr. Hale was in that particular situation in Nepal.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:1-6 | WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

                                                Laddie Version

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  Today we will deal with some of Jesus' teachings on how to regulate our relationships with others (so certainly this would apply to

church).  At times Jesus' teaching seems to be so demanding, yet it is incredibly liberating and balanced.  We are going to look at an issue that has

caused much damage to many in the church.  Jesus' teaching, if followed, I believe, would liberate groups (like church settings) but it would primarily

liberate the individual.   The issue is judgmentalism.

            Q  Is there judgmentalism in churches you know of?  Raise your hands.

            Q  What sort of things are judged or what things seem to have given rise to such an attitude in your experience?

            Q  How many of you know individuals who no longer go to church because they are tired of being judged, or feel a judgmental spirit? 

Would anyone like to share an example?

            Q  Have you ever felt judged?  Would you like to share your experience?

            Q  Has such an experience hurt you spiritually?  Why?

            Q  How many of you know someone who was judged falsely?  Can you give an example?

            Q  How should people act in church?

            Q  What makes people become judgmental, in of all places a church, the "teaching place of grace"?

                        Note:  Our study will focus on what Jesus says on this issue, and show how to obtain His goal.

            

II.  Basic Imperative And The Basic Rule.  Matthew 7:1.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:1.

            Q How does Jesus approach the issue?

               An = Jesus says just do not do it.  

            Q Does Jesus give us a reason for not judging?

               An = Yes, and it is a personal one.  You will judged if you do it.  What goes around, comes around?

            Q  What does it mean to you, we will be judged, if we judge others?

            Note:  Whatever we do, it will come back on us.  It can come back on us in my understanding in two ways.

            1)  Those who are most negative and most condemning of others faults seem to get the most criticism behind closed doors.  It would make

us shutter if we knew what others said and thought behind our backs.  Ever noticed that those who give the most slack, receive the most.  If you look for

the good in others they somehow find it in you.

            Q  Have any of you experienced this?

            2)  If we judge others God will judge us.  Remember what the Lord's prayer says:  God will forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12),

and so here God says, God will judge us as we judge others.  In other words, God will exact revenge on us for what we have done.  He will bring

justice.

            Q  If this is true what will happen to a lot of judgmental people who now go to church?  Do you believe this?

            Note:  A lot of good, evangelical Bible believing christians say they believe the Word of God.  I am one of those.  If we say this than we

must realize that if we are judgmental and think it will not come back on us then we really do not believe the Word of God.

 

III.  Reason For Obeying.  Matthew 7:2.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:2

            Q  Jesus has already told us the reason for not judging, why does He repeat it here?

               An = Remember in Jesus thought, if something is repeated it is being emphasized.

            Q  How many times is it repeated?

               An = Actually, Jesus gives the "motive clause", the reason for not judging three times.  So it is not only very important to realize this,

but "very" important to realize this.

            Note:  There is something in Jesus' thought that we often take for granted, but it would be good to realize, and think of often.  When Jesus

gives us commands (whether negative or positive ones) He follows His commands or prohibitions with reasons.  Jesus respects our ability to think. 

He appeals to our reason.  His commands are "reasonable", and He wants us to know why He asks us to do things.

            Q  How would we apply this reason?  How do you judge in the way you want to be judged?  How is that done?

            Q  Have you ever experienced some one being gracious to you when you seemingly failed?        Q  Can you give an example when

someone gave you slack, or looked for the best?

            >>>> Have someone read Romans 14:10-12.

                        Q  Does Paul agree with Jesus?

                        Q  What is Paul's emphasis?

 

IV.  Do not Judge, But Correct Yourself.  Matthew 7:3-6.

   A.  Be Self Corrective First.  Matthew 7:3-5.

            Q  If we do not tell others what harms them, then could we be justly accused of not loving them?  What do you think?

            Q  Do you believe it is true, "we correct those whom we love"?  

               An = You who are school teachers.  If you care about your students, then you correct them not judge them.  If you are parents you do not

condemn your child but guide them into correct paths if they are doing things that could harms them.  If you are a good friend at school, you would not let

your friend wear something totally out of style and let them look like a jerk.  We correct those we love.  

            However, there is a right and a wrong way to do that.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:3-5.

            Note:  Imagine walking with a log in your eye.

            RQ Ever seen pictures of ancient Jews?  

                        They all had these amazing pieces of wood sticking out of their eyes.  It is horrible to see.  Everyone is always cut up and

bruised because they were always getting beat up with those logs every time someone turned their head.  It is terrible to look at those pictures.

            ????  Seriously, Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He is exaggerating to make a point.  Let me retranslate what I think He was saying in

modern metaphors.

            "Why do you look at the speck of sand in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the surfboard in your own.  How can you say to your

brother, `Let me take the speck of sand out of your eye, when all the time there is a surfboard in your own eye.'  You hypocrite, first take the surfboard

out of your own eye, then you can see clearly to remove the sand from your brother's eye.

            Q  What is our Lord asking us to do?  What is He saying here?  

            Q  How do you properly correct?

               An = We can really help someone if we help them get a piece of sand out of their eye.  Sand hurts.  Jesus we help others more

proficiently by "cleaning up your own act first".

            Q  Why is it that we readily listen to those who will first confess their own faults?

            Note:  Some might say Jesus is not telling us to "clean up our own act first", but really not to correct at all....  Lets see if Jesus means

this.

   B. Use Wisdom, Realize the Cost.  Matthew 7:6.

            Q  Is the best way to handle others sin is not to ever say anything at all?

            Q  Is the best way to handle life as a Christian to become a mush-brain.  To really follow Jesus must we become brain dead?

               An = I do not think so, Christians who discipline themselves to obey the teachings of Jesus do not become rubber brains but quite the

opposite.  They become wise, insightful people.  Let me show you Jesus' balance, lest you think they way of obedience is to not think.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:6.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is again using a metaphor.  Notice that this metaphor is in parallel form.  So lets look at what is parallel to

what?

            Q  What is parallel to pearls?

               An = What is sacred or what is holy.

            Q  What is parallel to dogs?

               An = pigs, and in Jesus' society pigs and dogs were considered the lowest form of mammals.  

            Note:  Also, in a metaphor, a physical object often represents a spiritual idea.

            Q  So what do the dogs or pigs represent?

                        Q  What does pearls represent in your opinion?

            Q  What is Jesus saying with this metaphor?

               An = Jesus is saying do not give what is valuable to "spiritually imperceptive persons".

            Q  How do we know someone is spiritually imperceptive?

               An = Their eyebrows of course.  All folks who are spiritually dull have green eyebrows.  Don't look at that person next to you!!!! 

Seriously, ....

            RQ  To determine who is spiritually perceptive and do not have to make a judgment?

            Q  Do you think Jesus is aware that He has do not judge, lest you be judged in 7:1 and then said judge lest you be attached in 7:6?

               An = He is totally aware and He seeks our balance.  At times we need to judge, but we do not need to be consumed, like many become,

with a "judgmental attitude".

            Note:  Since Jesus is aware that He is speaking 7:6 in the context of 7:1-5, there could be another insight here....

            Q  In this context, what is the valuable thing, the pearls, we are not to throw to pigs?

               An = In this context, it would be correction.  The taking of the speck of dust out of our fellow man's eye.

            Q  If someone corrects you, do they take the risk of being ripped?

            Q  When you correct someone, do you not take the risk of being ripped?  

            RQ How happy are we with our parents when they correct us?  Do we not rip them?

            RQ How angry do we get when we get critique at work, or at home?

 

                        Note:  At times we need to take risks.  But when we take those risks we need to remember that in the

same way we judge, we will be judged and that we need to clean up our own act first.

               Note:   Jesus says do not judge in 7:1 and that you have to judge in 7:6.  Jesus wants balance and freedom.  We have to make

judgments at times for our own safety, but He does not want us consumed with negative judgmental behavior.

            Note:  Jesus wants us healthy and that is because of His deep love for us.

>>>> Close with reading Romans 15:1-2.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:21-26, 33-37 | JESUS AND THE LAW: MURDERING WITH WORDS

I. Introduction:

            Note:  Previously, we have been looking at the way Jesus handles Old Testament Law.  Today I would like to look further at how Jesus

handles the Old Testament Law and how Jesus applies this to Christians.

            Note:  If you remember, Jesus has a high view of the Law and this is stated in Matthew 5:17-19 and then He makes the startling statement

in Matthew 5:20.  Let's read that verse one more time together.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:20.

            Q Do you remember what we discussed about the meaning of this verse?  What does it mean?

               An = Jesus is saying that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of those who were religious leaders of Jesus' day.  To enter

the kingdom of heaven or the Christian faith one had to go further and exceed the religiosity of the day.

            I love what Oswald Chambers says in this regard:  "We should have a family resemblance to Jesus Christ".  Just as when people meet us,

and we can remind them of our parents, we should be the type of people in our actions and attitudes that remind people of our Lord.  His Spirit should be

ours.  Just as we should be like our parents, if they are good people, in more than a physical outward resemblance, it should be with us as God's children.

            Q So how do we get there?  How do we become more like Jesus and how do we get free of our self-centeredness?  

               An =  Jesus' way in the Sermon on the Mt. is a highly practical one.  He shows how to practically grow into the likeness of Him and His

father.  His program for spiritual growth is two fold:  1) make decisions on specific and concrete issues and 2) act on those decisions with physical

action.  Lets look at two examples of how to do that.

 

II.  Speaking the Truth:  Matthew 5:33-34.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 5:33-34

            Q  Do you see the pattern emerging?

               An = He quotes the Law in verse 33, adds the words, "But I say unto you", and then begins to radicialize to "fulfill" to "complete" the

teaching inherent in the Old Testament.

            Q  What is the issue being addressed here?

               An = Telling the truth.  Vows were taken to bolster up someone's verbal claims.  That is why we swear          in court, "So help me

God".

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 5:35-36

            Q  Why is Jesus adding all these examples or situations where we are not to swear?

               An = Jews in that day, would not swear by God and break their word, because that would break Exodus 20:7 or the third commandment of

taking the Lord's Name in vain.  So they would swear by lesser objects.  Jesus points out that this is all missing the point.  We are not to swear at all,

because all of life belongs to God.  If we swear by anything, we are swearing by His Name.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:37

            Q  What does this mean?

               An = If we really understand the intent of the Law about not breaking vows, or taking oaths, we realize that at the heart of the issue, is

truth telling.  So if we want to "fulfill" the Law, we merely tell the truth.  Our "yes" is always a "yes".  If we say "yes"  I will help you, then when the

time comes we actually help them.  If we say "no" we will not break our contract then our "no" means "no".

 

III.  Murdering With Words.

   A.  Repetition of the Law and Presentation of the Issue.  Matthew 5:21.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:21

            Q What is the issue Jesus is bringing up?

               An = The issue is the prohibition of murder.  Jesus repeats one of the Ten Commandments, (the sixth commandment:  Exodus 20:13 and

Deuteronomy 5:17).  He then makes a correct deduction:  if you murder then you are liable to the court.  

   B.  Jesus takes the Law further and Radically Applies It.  Matthew 5:22.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:22.

            Note:  Jesus opens with His customary:  "But I say to you".  He claims authority here, and he expands the prohibition of murder in three

ways.

            Q  What are the three ways He expands it in this verse?

               An = First, He says if you are "angry with your brother" you shall be guilty before the court.  In other words Jesus is saying that if you

are angry (and some manuscripts add "angry with your brother without cause") then it is the same as murder.  An alarming situation indeed.  

            Second, He says if you call your brother "Raca" you are answerable to the Sanhedrin.  What Jesus is saying is here is if you call your

brother an "idiot" (for that is what "Raca" roughly means) you are liable to the Supreme Court of the Land:  namely the Sanhedrin of Jesus' day.

            Third, He says if anyone says:  "You fool" they are in danger of the fires of hell.  In other words calling your brother a fool could land

you in hell.  

            Note:  This last phrase is quite upsetting and let us look up all of this passage and check a few things in the Greek.  If we do this we

discover an amazing thing.  The word "fool", the exact greek word used here, is found in another place in Matthew:  in Matthew 23:17.  Lets turn to this

passage.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 23:17.

            Q  Who is speaking here and to whom?

               An = It is Jesus Himself.  Jesus is speaking to the leaders of his day:  the Pharisees and scribes, and He is calling them "fools".

            Q  If Jesus is not sinning here against His own commands, what is He doing?

               An = One thing becomes quite clear the more you read Matthew and that is he is quite aware of what he is writing.  Matthew is a

carefully written book.  He is aware that he has recorded the same greek word for "fool" in Matthew 23:17 that Jesus forbids us to use in 5:22.  I believe

Matthew's reason for doing this is to help us not misunderstand what Jesus is saying:  it is not the mere repetition of certain syllables like those that

make up the word "fool" in what ever language we speak in.  It is not the word "fool" or the syllables that make up the words for "fool" that are the

issue.  He wants us to see the real issue being discussed in Matthew 5:22.

            Q  Is there a gradation of penalties in Matthew 5:22?

               An = There seems to be:  Liable to court, liable to the Supreme Court and then liable to the fires of hell.  However, the scholars say

that though there is gradation of penalties involved, these is no gradation in the offense recorded.  In other words: there is no gradation from anger, to

the word "Raca" to the word "fool".  They must be taken together.  When we are angry and we call someone "stupid" or a "fool" in anger we are as guilty as

those who commit physical murder.  The gradation of penalty seems to be a rhetorical devise to let us know how serious Jesus regards the matter, but

offense is best understood as combination of being angry and verbally calling someone a negative term.

            Note:  Remember, if you call someone a fool and they are one, that is not sin.  That is merely speaking the truth, but 5:22 is talking about

"anger" and "words".

            Note:  When I was in college I took a course in upper division Sociology.  It was called "Sociology of Deviant Behavior".  In it we read six

books and one of them was about "Call-girls" or "higher class or more expensive prostitutes".  In the book this sociologist interviewed a large number of

gals who made their living by selling their bodies, and he made an amazing discovery.  Most of these girls when they fought with their mothers when in

adolescence were told by their own mothers:  "Well, you are no better than a whore".  The mothers said that to their kids in anger and the gals went out

and fulfilled prophesy.

            Example # 2  When I worked on the West side of Fresno and was doing academic tutoring of black kids I discovered that one of their

greatest disadvantages was that they thought they were inferior and so did not aspire to good grades or a bettering of their situation in terms of

education, jobs or a place in society.  Words had held them back.  In those days people had told blacks they were inferior and many of these kids honestly

thought they were.

            Example # 3  When our own kids get us angry, or our spouse, relatives, or fellow workers, it is so easy to tell them that they are:  to

call them fools or call them stupid or verbally assign them to the position of a lower existence.   In certain situations we can be guilty of murder.  We

murder one's soul with words.

            Q  Has anyone ever done this to you?

            Note:  If we kill someone's body we do a wrong thing.  However, our bodies were not made to live forever and as wicked as murder is it is

not as bad as killing the soul.  Our souls live forever, and if we aid in the killing of another's soul, we are guilty of a much worse type of murder.  

            Q  Is not God just in punishing us for the murder of a soul with the damnation of our own soul in hell?

               An = Let them discuss this if they want, but Jesus is making a logical fair judgment here.  For Jesus to not condemn us for the murder

of an eternal soul, is to cheapen the value of that other person's soul.

            Q Let me ask an even more disagreeable question, have any of you put down others with words?  <>

            Q So what does that say to us?  Where are we all going?

               An = If Jesus wanted merely to condemn us in guilt then He would have ended His teaching on this subject with 5:22, but that is not His

goal or intention.  He wants us in the kingdom of heaven, He wants to be like Him, to have a "family resemblance to Himself" as Oswald Chambers says. 

So how do we get there?  What do we do?  Lets see!

   C.  The Way to Become Like Guiltless.  Matthew 5:23-24.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:23-24.

            Q  What is Jesus doing here?

               An = He is showing them the way to "exceed the righteous of the scribes and Pharisees".  He is showing them the way to salvation, to

how to be in line with the will of God.

            Q  Did you know where sacrifices could be offered in Jesus' day?

               An = There was only one place one could make an offering at the altar and that was in Jerusalem.  It was in Jerusalem and in Jerusalem

alone.  In addition, most Jews did not live in Jerusalem.  It was a three day walk from Galilee and a four month travel from Rome or six month travel

from Babylon where a lot of Jews lived.  In fact, in Jesus' day they estimate that for every Jew that lived in Palestine, six and a half times as many Jews

lived outside of the country.  When Jesus says leave your gift at the altar and return home that would mean by the time you got back it would be rotted.

            In other words, even if you are doing the right and proper thing at church it is to be stopped until you have made it right with the offended

party.  It does not matter what fine and glorious thing you are doing in the house of God, the making right of relationship we have damaged is the most

important thing we can do for God.  Especially, if we have damaged with harsh, derogatory words said in anger.

            Example:  When I was a teenager I was challenged to read a Gospel completely through in one sitting, and so I decided to do so.  I came

to this part and realized that as much as I loved God and the things of God I had hurt my own brother many, many times.  I was an average American big

brother, and I had sinned.  My brother had something against me.  So I stopped reading the Bible and went out and found him swinging on a pole, and

apologized to him.  It was one of the hardest things I had ever done.  I had never apologized to my brother.  He was in shock.  He just looked at me, he did

not say a word, he had never heard me do such a thing.  I meant what I said though and then went back to reading the Gospel.

            Q  What does Jesus say in 5:24 about after we have reconciled with our brother?

               An = He says "come home.  Come and present your offering.  I want to receive from you, I want to fellowship with you, I want to be on

good terms with you despite your past errors".

            In other words:  there is hope for us who have made this error of murdering with words!  God wants us home.

   D.  The Concluding Admonition.  Matthew 5:25-26.

            Note:  Jesus does not end here.  He knows how hard a thing He is asking.  He knows us well and how hard His commands are, so He gives us

another word before He concludes.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:25-26.

            Q  What is Jesus doing here?  What does this metaphor of court procedures mean?  What relevance does it have to our discussion of

murder with words?

               An = He is using a common metaphor of His day about legal matters.  It is better to settle out of court if you are guilty, then to be

brought to court and wind up doing time.  Jesus is saying settle the matter now with those you have verbally offended and do not wait for the judgment

seat of God.  If you have hurt others with words, the judgment may be started in this life, or could be, right around the corner.

            Note:  Notice how Jesus concludes in verse 25.  He solemnly warns that payment must be made for our verbal murders.  There will be no

leniency.  He says this not to merely terrorize with the threat of hell, but to spurn us on to action.  He does not want us to take lightly what the truth is

about the will of God and the coming judgment.  He does not want us to die, because He loves us.

 

III.  Application:

            Q So what do we do?

               An = Let me merely add that these are very convicting words for me.  I have done a lot of apologizing in my time, and will always have

to do so.

            1) I would suggest that you think about those you need to write or call or go see if you are the offending party.

            2)         If you feel guilt and want to improve, let me remind you of Matthew 5:6.

            "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:17-20, 27-30 | JESUS AND THE LAW | ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: RADICALIZING THE LAW

I. Introduction:

            Q  Can following the Mosaic Law save us from our sins?

            Q  If the Law cannot save us, what is the role of the Mosaic Law?

               An = Paul reminds us, it can show us our sin, but its primary function in the Old Testament is as a response to His mighty action of

saving.  God saved the Jews, not their ability.  It was God who opened the Red Sea, not their prayers or righteousness.  What the Law does is keep us

free, it is response in gratitude to His salvation and our choice to be submitted to His love.  We did not choose for Christ to die on the cross, but we are

free to respond to that grace once we have received it.  We saw how the Old Testament Law functioned for Israel, but...

            Q How does the Old Testament Law function in the christian life today?

               An = After they give their answers, then you begin.

            Note:  It is often said that Jesus did away with the laws of the Old Testament or that we are under grace now, so the Old Testament does

not apply.  I would like to say two things in regard to that.  First, it is true that something "new" arrived in the history of mankind when Jesus Christ

came to earth.  In Christ is the fullness of the God-head revealed.  Second, however, remember who Jesus Christ's Father is.  His Father is the God of the

Old Testament.  Jesus' Father is the God of the Old Testament.  And the Father and the Son are One.

            Note:  Our aim today is to see some of what Jesus thinks about the Law or the Old Testament.  After all if Jesus is the head of the Church,

then it makes sense to see what He thinks about the Old Testament.  After all, it is Jesus, who is God.  

 

II.  The Eternality of The Law.   Matthew 5:17-20.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:17-19.

            Note:  The Old Testament in Jesus' day was often referred to as the "Law and the Prophets".  

            Q What is Jesus saying in 5:17 and 18?

               An = In verse 17 He says clearly He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfil.  Do not explain beyond this but tell them that we will

return to this verse.  In verse 18 He says not the smallest letter of the Old Testament shall pass away until all is accomplished.

            Q What is Jesus saying in 5:19?

               An = In verse 19 He issues a warning:  our greatness as teachers is diminished if we degrade the Old Testament and our use of the Old

Testament is aggrandized if we teach it.

            QQ On a scale of 1-10 what is Jesus' view of the Old Testament?

               An = It is definitely a 10!

            Note:  Perhaps the most difficult verse of these three to understand is 5:17.  Jesus seems to be aware of this.  What is interesting is

verse 20 will explain verse 17 and all the rest of chapter 5 will illustrate what 5:20 means.  So lets read 5:20....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:20.

            Q What is Jesus saying here?

               An = Jesus seems to be saying this verse is the key to entering heaven.  That is an important thing. 

            Q So, how do we enter the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven?

               An = Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.  

            Q Who are these gentlemen?  Who and what did they represent that we must exceed their life style or the kingdom of heaven is not ours?

               An = The Pharisees were the most religiously scrupulous people of their society.  They firmly believed in the Old Testament as the

Word of God.  They were the most strict adherents to the Mosaic Law.  They were highly regarded and respected leaders of their religious society.  I

often liken them to the Conservative Evangelicals of our day.  Those who really try to live the christian life.  They are like serious deacons, trustees, and

elders of Evangelical churches.

            The scribes were the biblical scholars of their day.  They were experts in the Bible.  They were the professors of religion of their time. 

They were the Bible Ph.d's of their day.

            Q So what is Jesus saying?

               An = To enter His kingdom one's righteousness must exceed the righteousness of even the most respected leaders of their day.  This

sounds very discouraging to me.  When I read this as a child I was pretty discouraged.  This is bad news to most of us in the room today.  After all Jesus

is the one who defines who gets into heaven, and what He says sounds almost impossible to accomplish for most of us.

            RQ Should we all go home?  Is not heaven just impossible to obtain?

            Note:  What will follow in the next few verses is a series of six examples of what Jesus means by our "righteousness exceeding that of

the Pharisees" and what He means in 5:17 where He says He came to "fulfill" the Old Testament.  In other words, what does He means by "fulfill" or "fill

up" and what does He mean by "exceed"!

            Note: There is a pattern in Matthew 5:21-48.  It is a definite, easy to observe pattern that is found six times in the rest of the chapter. 

We will look at one of these examples and look at the others in the next few weeks.  All six of these examples answer the question:  What does "exceed"

and "fulfil" mean?

 

III.  The Pattern and An Example.  Matthew 5:27-302.

   A.  The Pattern:

            Note:  There is pattern to how Jesus takes the Law and fulfills it or shows practically how those who wish to enter the kingdom of heaven

must "exceed" the righteousness of established religion of the day.  The pattern is simply this.  It has three steps sometimes followed by a fourth.   The

pattern is this:

            1) Jesus quotes the Old Testament by either saying "you have heard" or "it was said".  Most people of that day did not own a Bible and so

they heard the Scriptures read each time they went to synagogue, the Temple, etc.  So Jesus first quotes the Old Testament as authority.

            2) Jesus then follows with "four words" "But I tell you..." in your NIV (pew Bibles) or with "five words" in the NASB, RSV, KJ "But I say

unto you..." 

            Note:  The revolutionary statement of these words is astounding.  Jesus is saying this is what the Bible says "but I say..."  That is like me

saying this is what the Bible says "but this is what I says...".  These are fighting words to Jesus' contemporaries, Jesus is making serious claims here.

            Note:  Jesus is doing to the Old Testament Law what the Holy Spirit had already done to it in the Old Testament itself.  Jesus, like the

Prophets was radically applying it to contemporary and expanding situations.

            3)  Finally Jesus gives an application of that portion of Scripture that "exceeds" the religious practice of the day and "exceeds" practice

of the Laws contemporary practice.  His application goes further along the very spirit of that Law, and brings it to its "fulfillment".

            4)  Finally, sometimes there is additional help that Jesus gives His audience to help them implement His teaching.

   B.  An Example of the Pattern:  Purity of Heart.  Matthew 5:27-30.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:27-30.

            Q  Do you see the pattern?  Can you find 

               An = Do you see the first part in 5:27 where Jesus quotes the Law.  This time it is one of the Ten Commandments:  the seventh

commandment or Exodus 20:14.  Then in verse 28 is the famous words again:  "But I tell you (NIV)".  Then the rest of verse 28 explains the "further

purity", or "how to exceed", or "how to really fulfil" God's real heart in this matter.  Finally, this particular example of the pattern also has "additional

helps".

            Q  If we go back to verse 28, what in essence is Jesus saying?

               An = In essence Jesus is saying:  "not only are you to not commit sexual sin with another man's wife but you are not to even "scope a

woman down".  You are not to even "fanaticize".  This is radical, exceeding.  Those of you are men in the audience know just how "exceeding" this

application is.

            Q  You may say this is "too hard".  How many in the room are adulterer with Jesus' definition?

               An = This condemns us all.  Speaking for the men, not a man in this room has not had illicit sexual fantasies.  But before you bail on me

here.  You would never want someone to have sex with your wife or husband or your daughter if they were not married to them, nor would you want them

"scoping down your wife or daughter with lecherous eyes"?  Not those of you who have been some how made aware of a higher, greater way.  You see

Jesus has articulated what "our best" would point to.  

            Note:  One other note.  I said sometimes Jesus added a fourth part to the pattern.  This application of the Old Testament does have the

fourth part.  Here you will see the not just Jesus' will but something more of His heart, of the heart of God.  

            Jesus does not want us to be condemned in guilt and left there.  To be sure we do need to be condemned in guilt

because our hearts are guilty.  We do not think like He does.          However, He wants us to go to heaven and not be left in

condemnation and He wants us to live so that we can control ourselves sexually here in on earth!!

            RQ  What if you want to have integrity:  so that you can begin to truly mean:  "thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven"?

            Q  Is there any hope?  How would one begin to enter the place where Jesus Christ reigns in us.  Where we are in His Kingdom, where He is

truly Lord?

               An = Lets see how beautifully He adds words to this application to help us.

>>>> Let me re-read Matthew 5:29-30.

            Q  Is Jesus telling us to cut out our eyes as we see a cute girl on the beach, or cut off our hands as they reach for that pornography?  

            Q = Is the mark of true Christian males that they only have left hands and wear patches over their right eyes?

               An = No, I think Jesus clearly has something else in mind here.  "Martin Luther says you cannot stop the birds from flying over your head

but you can stop them from building nests in your hair."  As sexual creatures we cannot help but being excited by the human body, but we can help what

movies we see, by what magazines we buy, by getting out of bad situations, that in, and of themselves, are not wrong but cause us to stumble sexually.

            Note:  The right hand in the Ancient Near East was the "best hand", the right eye, the "best eye".  Jesus is saying sometimes it best to get

rid of something that in and of itself is not wrong but it leads to our destruction.

            EX 1  Those who know something of alcoholics anonymous, or a twelve step program know that alcoholics do not "modify" their drinking

they eliminate it.  A glass of good wine at dinner, a cold beer at the end of a hard day is not wrong but it would be begin the destruction of an alcoholic. 

            Ex 2  The beach is beautiful, but for years I did not often go, because so many poor girls went there.  They were so poor that they could not

afford a full bathing suit, they could only afford these skimpy things that exposed a great deal.  Poor girls!!  Is the beach wrong?  No!  Are girls wrong? 

No!  But for me to see them like that only made me lust.  The body was made by God.  A quick look at the Song of Solomon clearly shows the celebration

and appreciation the Bible wants us to have towards sex and the human body.  It says "lust" though is wrong.

            Note:  If I am serious, I must radically cut out of my life what causes me to stumble.  If I do not then I prove I do not want "His will to be

mine" on "earth as it is in heaven".  At least I know who I really am, and what I really want.

            Q So what is Jesus doing here?

               An = Jesus says nothing about being "baptized" here as necessary or as helpful in getting into heaven.  If we want to enter Jesus'

kingdom, then we must "exceed the religiosity of our day".

            Q If baptism or our birth does not save us, if being a "decent man or women" does not save us then what does?

               An = You have to want to be truly in His kingdom.  You have to want it above all other things.  It must dominate all of your life.  You

will need help.  You will need the help of God's Holy Spirit.  It can be done.  Jesus wants us in heaven.  The only problem is that we cannot get there on

our terms.

            What Jesus's Words may point out is that you are a cultural Christian and not willing to be that radical and let God

truly be your King.

            These words are as convicting to the leaders as they are to you tonight so let me share with you one of my favorite verses that has given

me hope on countless occasions as I too have faced who I am:

            Matthew 5:6   "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:10-16 | The Beatitudes:

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  Let me tell you a short story:  There was once a young college student who was asked to speak in his church's youth group during

the summer since he was home from a Christian college.  He deliberately used offensive words and certain annoying phrases that so ticked off the adults

sponsors in the class that later on the pastors had to take the young man to lunch and let him know that they would not allow him to speak in Sunday

School again.  Was the young man upset?  No!!  In some senses it was exciting to "take on the power structure".  

            Q Was that young man suffering for God?

               An = Hardly!  He was reaping the consequences of his actions, but not suffering for the sake of righteousness.  Jesus says:  "Blessed

are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).  It is one thing to irritate people because we

are irritating persons and to face insult and persecution because the purity of our lives has struck a nerve.

            Note:  Sometimes folks are offended by us not because of the faith, merely by our poor behavior.  Maybe someone is not rejecting the Bible

but us.  They are not rejecting our words but something about our person, or behavior, or bad breath!

            Q Why was Jesus Christ persecuted and finally tortured to death?

               An = After they have given their answers, then offer what is given below.

            Let me frame an answer to that question with the help of Dorothy Sayers.  

            "The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused Him of being a bore--on the contrary;  they thought Him too dynamic to be

safe.  It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium.  We have very

efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified Him `meek and mild', and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale ministers and

pious old ladies.  To those who knew Him, however, He in no way suggested a milk-and-water person;  they objected to Him as a dangerous firebrand. 

True, He was tender to the unfortunate, patient with honest inquirers, and humble before Heaven;  but He insulted respectable clergymen by calling them

hypocrites;  He referred to King Herod as `that fox';  He went to parties in disreputable company and was looked upon as a `gluttonous man and a

winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners';  He assaulted indignant tradesmen and threw them and their belongings out of the Temple;  He drove a

coach-and-horses through a number of sacrosanct and hoary regulations;  He cured diseases by any means that came handy, with a shocking casualness in

the matter of other people's pigs and property;  He showed no proper deference for wealth or social position;  when confronted with neat dialectical

traps, He displayed a paradoxical humor that affronted serious-minded people, and He retorted by asking disagreeably searching questions that could not

be answered by rule of thumb.  He was emphatically not a dull man in His human lifetime, and if He was God, there can be nothing dull about God either. 

But He had a `daily beauty in His life that made us ugly,' and officialdom felt that the established order of things would be more secure without Him.  So

they did away with God in the name of peace and quietness."

            Note:  Jesus says if we truly follow Him, if we are truly His disciples, then we too will face persecution because of the righteousness of

our lives.

            Q  Is it fair that good people get maligned and hassled?

            Q  Should we be angry when we see terrible things happen to others or ourselves?

               An = Jesus says the proper response is to realize "who these suffering people really are".

>>>>  Turn with me to Revelations 19:5-7.  Let me show you what is going to be sung in heaven;  Have someone read Revelations

19:5-7.

            Note:  Amazing, the amount of joy and exaltation that will take place.

            Q Who is this bride that will excite great praise to be given to God?

               An = The true church, the true believers.  Those who have suffered persecution for Christ, the groom, which God declares them to be

because of their righteousness and loyalty to Him.  The "honors of men" pale in comparison to the honor of being the cause of praise in heaven.  How can I

be part of that coronation?  Hollywood and Political Rallies are small time compared with unending choruses of heaven.  

            Q How do I become part of the real and magnificent celebration of the courts of heaven?

            Q How do we bring about such praise, such glory?  How do we become part of the bride of Christ?

               An = Let them give their answers and carefully note them, and then offer to take a look at Jesus' own words on the subject and ask them

to turn to Matthew 5.

 

II.  Staying Loyal To The King, The Groom:  Matthew 5:10-16.

   A.  Understanding Blessedness:  Matthew 5:11-12.

>>>> Read Matthew 5:10-12.

            Q How do we become blessed?

               An = When men insult us, persecute us, speak falsely all kinds of evil against us because of Him.  I have had plenty of people speak evil

of me, especially around exam time, but what about being hassled and persecuted because I will not disown Jesus Christ!

            Note:  If I am loyal to Him, and I catch it for such loyalty, then Jesus says this is what your attitude should be...Re-read Matthew 5:12.

            When there is a daily beauty about me that convicts others of their sin and I get persecuted, I am to rejoice.  I am to go

bananas!  I am to be crazy with joy, because I have just joined the realm of the "blessed".  I am now like the great prophets of old who spoke the truth

and paid dearly for their loyalty to God.

            Note:  Most of us try to be closet Christians.  It is like the boy who went to work in the logging camps for a summer job and the youth

group prayed for him that his faith would stay strong.  When he came back the group asked him how his summer went.  He replied:  "Great, I had no hassle

at all, no ever even knew I was a Christian".

   B. Staying The Salt Of The Earth:  Matthew 5:13.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:13.

            Q What does salt represent?

               An =  We Christians we not called to melt away in the crowd and just fit in.  We are the salt of the earth.  Salt preserves, salt

seasons, salt can sting....  Jesus was the salt of the earth and the planet has never been the same because He was here.  He did not let religious people

beat up on prostitutes, He did not mind touching the sick, He did not mind associating with "rough crowd".  He did not walk away when innocent people

were brutalized...  He has been the most sane thing, the most beautiful thing that we have ever known and during His life time they said He had

demons and crucified Him.

            "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."  Jesus says, "blessed

are you when you are like Me".

 

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 5:13

            Q What will happen to us if we will not pay that cost according to the end of verse 13?

               An = We will be thrown out, become useless.  Nothing is more insipid than a compromised, closet Christian.  Nothing is more valuable

to your city or work place, or family, than those who will bear anything because of their loyalty to Jesus Christ.

            Note:  It is not optional to be afraid to declare your faith.  You are either worthwhile or you are not.

   C.  Being The Light Of The World:  Matthew 5:14-16.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:14-15.

            RQ What if I got a really good flashlight and turned it on, and then carefully put it in a drawer?

            Q What is the purpose of light according to these two verses?

               An = It is to shine, to be seen and then to help other people see!  If we do not share our faith, if we do not try to let others know the

beauty of Jesus Christ, then we are cheating the world!

            Q  Does this mean that I should go home and irritate all my neighbors and family members with my religious superiority? 

            Q  Does this mean that I should go home and pistole wipe all the folks at work with my Bible! 

            Q  Have you ever done or seen this done?  What were the results? 

            Q  How does one really shine?  

            Q  How does one please our King, so that all heaven will be filled with praise as we near our Maker at the end of time?

               An = I think Jesus tells us in 5:10 but we are so quick to forget that we need to hear it repeated so Jesus graciously does that for us.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:16.

            Q  Do you see it?  How do we let our light shine?

               An = They are to see our "good deeds" and notice what results will take place?  They will praise your Father who is in heaven.  They do

not praise us!

            Q  Have you seen someone else do this lately?  Do not give stories about yourself but about another brother or sister?

            Note:  Remember a few weeks ago we saw that Jesus was the interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount.  We said that He was the acting

out in life, in human form, what He teaches in Matthew chapters 5-7?  Let me end with reading two short vignettes to you from Matthew, chapter 9.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 9:1-7.

            Q What is the response of the crowd in verse 8?

               An = They gave praise to God!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 9:32-34.

            Q What is the response to Jesus' act of mercy here?

               An = Here Jesus releases a poor, demented, tortured man, but catches flack!  Jesus was the Light of the World.  He brought clarity,

peace, goodness to all He dealt with.  But remember, they killed Him.  

            Note:  Goodness given to the world comes at a price to those who deliver it.  It will cost but all heaven will resound with joy at the

beauty of our loyalty.

            Q  Where do we get the courage to live like this?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:7-10 | The Beatitudes: By Faith It Is Possible to Please God

I. Introduction:

   A.  Looking For Human Love.

            One of the greatest things in life is to be loyally loved:  to have someone really love you and not leave when the bloom of romance is over. 

We would all like to be excessively handsome, or a tremendous athlete, always successful, then we would always be loved.

            Example:  Those of you in school, what if when you go to get lunch, as you walked by, girls swooned, and started to

hyperventilate just because you passed by.  What if one of one of you gals started guy's hearts racing just because you walked into

view.  What a life!  Huh?

            Note: But there is a good chance you would not be loved.

            RQ Did you ever realize that those who have money really wonder if they are ever lovable if they did not have money?  

            RQ Is not a rich or famous male vulnerable to never really finding out if someone loves him for just who he is?

            RQ Did you realize how hard it is to separate the gold-diggers from those who sincerely love you?

            RQ Would you be loved if the health, success, money, or looks would be gone?

            Note:  Do you see why the marriage vows include:  "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health".  Whoever, pinned those vows knew a

great deal about love.  

            Q How do we know if we are truly loved by someone?

               An = The ancient Israelites knew the difference between "love" and the "love they really needed", this quality was so important that

they coined a word for it:  "Hesed".  They had other words for love, like "ahav", but the word "hesed" meant more.  It can be loosely translated:  "covenant

or loyal love".  God had committed Himself to them and so His love was "Hesed", it was consistent, it was loyal love.

   B.  Looking For How To Love God.

            Q What about loving God?  How does God know we really love Him, or that we are only doing things because we fear Hell, or want some

blessing?

               An = Some folks think that if you have "deep religious emotions" that this is what makes you truly good.  They will criticize churches

or individuals who do not have the same deep emotional experiences that they have as "dead".

            Q But do not such feelings quickly fade?  How many of you have come back from camp as a kid all pumped up about God only to have the

feelings quickly disappear.

            Note:  Some folks think that we just need to do the proper rituals or ceremonies or have the correct doctrines.

            Q But what if your spouse told you:  "Listen, I fulfilled my part of the contract, so you owe me.  Now pay up.  I have earned your

blessing".  Is that what we really need?

            Q Do we really love God when we do the right rituals or believe the correct doctrines?  Is that really loving God?

               An = We should have emotions and we should do the right rituals and believe the true doctrines.  However, that is not love, but could be

a form of manipulation.  

            Note:  We humans are a tough lot to teach how to love.  It is hard to find a human to who loves us for ourselves and hard

to really love God.  So what can we do?

            >>>> Read Hebrews 11:6

            Q It makes sense that if we loved God we would like to please Him, so if faith is necessary to please Him, how do we develop faith?

               An = I think God has a way of making it hard to be loyal to Him.  Sometimes He seems so emotionally far away.  Sometimes we do our

part, we are loyal, we go to church, we serve in the church, we are moral, we believe in biblical doctrines, but it does not seem to help us get ahead in our

lives.  Some times you help in the church and all you get is criticism!!!

            Q Ever experience that one?  Ever served your best only to be picked apart by others in the church?

            Q Why does God allow that?  Where is He?  Why does He feel so far?  Why no success despite our religious actions?  Why no appreciation

from God's own people?

               An = The key is the word:  "Faith".

            RQ Do we love God when the emotions are gone?  Do we love God when it does not seem to get us ahead?  Do we continue to serve when all

we get is flack?

            Note:  Let me give you three simple ways to help your faith grow.  I know they are good, because they are not my ideas, but come from the

very lips of Jesus Himself.  Turn with me to Matthew 5:7.

 

II.  Developing Love, Developing Faith, By Loyal Obedience.

   A.  Being Merciful by Faith:  Matthew 5:7.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:7

            Note:  God says if we are merciful, then we will receive mercy.

            Q But is this true?  Aren't we really tempted to think:  "He who is merciful is a chump".  "He who is merciful is naive".  "He who is

merciful is a fool who will be taken advantage of and burned time after time".

               An = Jesus comes along and says "Blessed are you".  Notice the motivation that He gives!  See the reason He gives:  God will reward

you.

>>>> Have someone read Psalms 41:1-3.

            Q But will God really come through?

               An = You won't immediately know.  There is usually a delay, and maybe it will take years, maybe not even in this life, for the reward to

come.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 21:14-15.

            Q How do these people respond to the wonderful deeds Jesus had performed?

               An = They were indignant!  Even Jesus Himself has experienced what has happened to you in the way of criticism:  healing the blind and

the lame, in the very temple courts of God, brought Him reproach.

            Note:  So how can you love God?  How can you prove to God and yourself that you love Him, "be merciful and by faith trust He will show

mercy to you".

   B.  Being Pure In Heart:  Matthew 5:8.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:8.

            Q What does "pure in heart" mean?

               An =  Some scholars think pure in heart means "singleness of heart".  Having pure motives.  In other words, our motives are not

mixed:  part for God, part for us.

            Q Does it pay to really be pure hearted or purity just something we image?   

               An = At times it seems most folks just want to hear the right words, you do not have to mean it!  It almost seems that all the effort to

truly be "pure in our heart" is not worth the effort and not necessary.  People just want the "words" anyway.

            Q Is there really a God who knows our hearts and whether we are lying?

               An = Some would say:  "Just go to church, do the right rituals, or just pump up those emotions".  However, God says it does matter if

our heart is pure.

>>>> Have someone read Psalm 24:3-6.

            Note:  But is this true?  Perhaps it will only be known by faith.

   C.  Being A Peacemaker:  Matthew 5:9

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:9.

            Q  What is your definition of a "peace maker"?

            Q  Have you wondered if it was worth while to try, will anyone ever appreciate it or will it ever do any good?

               An = Many times it seems that no matter how hard we try to make peace it does not seem to help.  However, we make the effort not

because it will always work but because it shows we truly believe in God.

            We believe He really exists and will reward us.  

            We believe He will call us His sons in final day of Judgment.

            We believe He will stand up and say:  "That one is mine, that's my son, that one is my daughter".

            If an angel should question Him, He will reply:  "She is just like me, he tried to act like me even when it did not always pay."

                        Imitation is a sincere form of flattery:

>>>> Have someone read Psalms 103:1,8.

            Note:  He wants us to be like Him, but we will only get there by faith, by being loyal, when it does not seem to pay.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:1-6 | The Beatitudes: Reversal

                                              I.  Greetings:

            Years ago, I bought my first computer and my first complex word processing program:  Word Perfect 4.0.  When I was first learning how to use the software program I became aware of how vast the program was, but I limited myself to learning only those parts that I needed to write a dissertation:  footnotes, and word processing procedures.  I needed to do this because I did not have time to learn other features.  As I upgraded my Word Perfect program to 4.2, 5.1 and even 6.0 I still did not learn how to become completely competent with the rest of the programs such as math, drawing, etc.  I own a vastly more complex program than I presently use.

            For many of us that is how we approach our faith, the Bible and Christ Himself.  We have started with some knowledge of Him and what He says in the Bible, but have never really explored more completely how much richness there is in the Scriptures and in Christ Himself.  I want to begin to scratch the surface a bit and show you some of Jesus' teaching.  I want to explore with you the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.  Learning all of a computer program is not essential to success in some settings, but learning the Sermon on the Mount is essential to be successful in the Christian life (Matthew 7:24-27).  You could avoid a great crash!

            

II.  Introduction:   Matthew 5:1-2

   A.  General Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.

            Note:  Matthew 5-7 if often called the Sermon on the Mount.  Some call it the "Call to Discipleship" or the definition of what a true

disciple is.  Turn with me if you will to Matthew 5:1.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:1-2.

            Q Does Jesus hide His highest teachings from the general public?

               An =  Notice Jesus is speaking to the crowds but verse 2 says His disciples were around him before He spoke.  I believe this is typical

of Jesus.  He will let anyone hear, but what He is going to say really is for disciples:  for dedicated followers of Jesus.

            Many cults have special teaching for their inner core, and hide such material from the general population.  However, not so with Jesus. 

There is no hidden agenda.  His teaching is open for all to hear.  Jesus has nothing to hide.

            Note:  The Sermon on the Mount has several characteristics.

            1. For disciples Only:  I believe what He is going to say in the next three chapters is not "good teaching" for the world, but for disciples

only.  This teaching is not for the average person.  As you will see, it is not easy to follow, in fact, impossible to follow without help from the Holy

Spirit.  

            2.  Not Idealism But For This Life:  However, the Sermon on the Mount is not idealism, but practically possible.  

            3.  Understanding Comes Only From Doing It:  William Barclay says it cannot be understood until it is followed.  You truly realize

what it means only when you do it.

            4.  Christ Centered:  Everything centers on Jesus' Person and activity.  Every thing He teaches, He already is.  He is the center of it

all.  He is source and the power behind the whole sermon.  If you do not like the Sermon on the Mount you will not like Jesus either.

            5.  Christ Explains His Own Teaching By His Own Actions:  One of the great adventures in reading the book of Matthew is to realize

that Jesus' teaching is found in 5 blocks in the book of Matthew (5-7, 10, 13, 18, 24-25) and these blocks are surrounded by narrative of Jesus' actions. 

If you cannot understand a statement of Jesus or it seems extreme, see how He acts.  His actions will explain what He means.  Jesus is His Message.

   B.  Introduction to the Beatitudes.

            Q What do we usually call the first few verses of the Sermon on the Mount (5:3-12)?

               An = The Beatitudes!  The Sermon opens with a series of statements that declare what it means to be "blessed":  called by many the

Beatitudes.  This is pattern found in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms.

            Q What is the pattern or sentence structure that seems to govern these verses?

               An =  It has a fairly regular rhythm to it.  "Blessed are....for....".  The type of person who is "blessed" is described and then why they

are so is given.  Let us look at the first beatitude and see if we can see the pattern.

 

III.  The Beatitudes:  Matthew 5:3-6.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:3.

            Q Who are those who are blessed?

               An = The "Poor in Spirit".  What does this mean?

            Q Does it mean those who are spiritually poor?  Should we stop reading our Bibles, helping the needy, stop praying and stop loving God so

we can be spiritually poor???

               An = No, the phrase has another meaning.  Some believe "poor in spirit" refers to becoming aware of our spiritual poverty.  Realizing

that we are no where spiritually and then and only then can we become blessed and come into "Kingdom of Heaven".  Actually, I believe this idea to be

true.  It found all over Scripture.  In fact, I think that is partly what Matthew 5:6 is saying.  Until we realize how far in need we are we do not really

enter the Kingdom, but I believe this phrase here, in this verse, means something else.

            "Poor in spirit" was a phrase used to describe those who indeed were socially and economically poor because of their loyalty to God's will.

            Turn to Luke 6:20 and lets read that together.

            Note:  Luke uses the word "poor", not "poor in spirit".  In other words, Jesus is saying it is great to be poor, if you have done so because

of your loyalty to Me.  Poverty is not something to be ashamed of but the beginning of the state of blessedness.  "Happy are those who are on the bottom

and social rung on the ladder because of their religious convictions, because they have heaven as their home".

            Q Is this verses out of step with most of what is on TV?

               An = Yes!  Television teaches blessed are the wealthy and foolish are those who do not get ahead socially or economically because of

religious commitments to God because there is no heaven, but only what you have now!

            JESUS REVERSES A GREAT DEAL OF TV VIEWPOINTS, HIS VIEW IS A REVERSAL OF HOW MUCH OF HOW HOLLYWOOD LIVES!

            Q How would this apply to those setting up their career?

            Q Can we lose heaven if we are not willing to be economically and socially poor for the sake of the Gospel?

            Q Do folks miss "blessedness" because they seek money and position?  How do Christians do this?

               An = Sometimes we do not seek to do evil, but we are unwilling to be poor to follow the Gospel.  We do not want to be in Christian

work, or in certain jobs, because they are not good for our career (career = economic and social standing).  Many times we walk away from the will of God

for lives, not because we sin, but because we are not willing to be poor for the sake of the Gospel.  It is blessed to be poor or excluded because of our

loyalty to God.  There is a heaven, and those willing to sacrifice what they have in this life to be loyal to God, will gain heaven.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:4.

            Q Why is this verse so strange, what is odd?

               An = It is so strange that those who suffer are the ones called "blessed":  those who have suffered lose so that they mourn.  Sometimes

we think we are blessed if all goes well for us every time, and if it does not, then God does not love us.  Jesus reverses this!  Blessed are those who

mourn.

            Q What does this have to say to those who are presently in mourning?

               An = It is a promise, "we will be comforted".  In Christ, pain always ends, sorrow always ends, mourning will cease.  Those of you

mourn this morning:  God promises it will end.

>>>> Have someone read Psalms 126:5-6.

            Q What does this have to say to those who are faced with difficulty to come?

               An = If we are His disciples then when we suffer lose then it will only produce blessing in our lives.  Because if we are His, we will be

comforted.  Many of you have suffered a lot difficulty already.  The difficulty did not curse you but blessed you.  Again, TV says we should always be

happy now.  Seek pleasure and happiness now and do not wait.  But God disagrees!!  To be a disciple of Jesus and enter blessedness.  You cannot be a

pleasure seeker and seek the comfort of God.  You cannot be a great athlete and never go through the "mourning" of rigorous training.  You will not be

blessed in athletics that way, nor in the spiritual life.

            Note:  There is another way to take this verse.  Some of you are now in mourning because of realizing how sinful you, blessed are you! 

You will be comforted!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:5.

            Q If we are honest, what is distasteful about the verse?

               An = Again, how strange.  Blessed are the meek, the humble because they will acquire the earth.  I never liked this verse when I was

younger because I did not want to be a wimp.  Besides, it seems blessed are the bullies, the liars, the "self promoters" and they will get ahead.  Jesus

says that blessed are the humble, the meek.

            Note:  I used to think "meekness was weakness".  The older I get, I begin to see that humility is a "power virtue".  It is only the property

of the strong.  It is the strong man who is humble.  Jesus was not weak.  He boldly confronted the corruption of the leaders of His day and paid dearly

(death on a cross) for doing so.  He feared neither men, death or the devil.  But He was not self-seeking, willing to be approached, willing to die for our

good.  Willing to appear weak to accomplish the will of God.  Jesus was meek.

            We are disciples of Jesus Christ.  We do not have to brag, to push others down, but we can be humble because we are His disciples.  We are

sons and daughters of the King, and our humility will open the world up to us.  We do not need to show off, we know who we are, just as He knew who He

was.

            Q Do you know someone in the church who lives out this verse and proves it validity?  Could you share this with us?

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:6.

            Q What is the promise given in this verse?

               An = It is one of hope.  We can be filled with righteousness, but we must be hungary for it.  We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, have to

decide what we are truly hungary for.  It is present riches and present comfort then we will be temporarily filled with those things.  Jesus warns that

such a path is dangerous.  

>>>> Have everyone turn back to Luke 6 and read Luke 6:24-25.  

            Note:  It is only truly safe to live by faith in Jesus' teaching.  If there is a heaven to gain then we are most wise to seek what He tells us

to seek.  It is best to sacrifice the now for the later heavenly reward.  This is true only if there is a heaven!  You need to have faith to see

the validity of the Sermon on the Mount.  It only makes sense to believers.

            Note:  It seems like that to follow Jesus is be the quite different from the world's way of thinking.  Blessing comes from strange places. 

The issue of reversal will dominate so much of all we have just read and will read.

            Note: Have you ever wondered about the inequities of the world?  How America has so much and India or parts of Mexico or Pakistan has so

little?  Is God fair?  

            He is!  True blessing is equally available to all, and it is not in how much money or position you have.  Maybe some of the most blessed

people on this planet are those who are socially and economically poor.  "Some of the first shall be last, and some of the last shall be first!"  William

Barclay the "Beatitudes" are not descriptions of what we should be but congratulations on what we are!  

            If you are "poor in spirit", "mourning", "meek" and "spiritually hungary", congratulations!  You move and dwell, whether you presently see it

now, in the fullness and glory of God's blessing.