The King Instructs

The King Instructs

Text: Matthew 7:1-29

Focus: Matthew 7:1-14

No matter what other people think about what is called "The Sermon On The Mount", it has not been hard to see that the purpose of this message has been to instruct the disciples of the Lord. These chapters have not been a plan of salvation but instruction to the disciple, to the believer, to the follower of Christ Jesus. If we toss aside these words of Jesus Christ Our Lord then we have missed a pure training program for those of us who love Our Lord Jesus. It is only after salvation that we can begin in the work that God has called us to do.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

We will learn in chapter seven how we should love our fellow disciples.

The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of exercising a false judgment about themselves, other people and even the Lord Jesus Christ. Their false judgment was an extension of their false righteousness.

These Pharisees made it a practice of setting themselves up as judges of all men and measuring others using themselves as the example.

We cannot forget the theme of this sermon of Christ Jesus:

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Jesus Christ was not forbidding His disciples nor any that believe on Him to distinguish between "good and evil". He was not forbidding the believer to distinguish between truth and error in doctrine. Christ was not dealing with actions as much as He was dealing with the motives behind those actions.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church these words:

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge [and in all judgment];

Php 1:10 [That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence] till the day of Christ;

Php 1:11 [Being filled with the fruits] of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Those fruit are listed as:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit led Paul to this example of the preaching of Jesus Christ.

The person who believes every preacher without judging his sermon by God's Word, or the person who accepts everyone that say they are spiritual but their works show that not to be true by the Word of God, will suffer from confusion and great spiritual loss.

If we accept the fact that we all will stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ:

2Co 5:10 [For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ]; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This is the judgment for the saved. You have to be saved to be here!

We will receive the things done in the body we call flesh. We will be judged by the work we have done for Christ since our salvation. If we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savour then we know this to be true.

Knowing this then we should judge our own selves and know that we abide by God's Word before we can discern between good and evil of others.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil].

The Pharisees "played God" in their judgment of others and gave no thought that they would be judged of God.

We are being judged as Christians as we walk the walk of Christ Jesus:

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

People judge us in our walk and we will receive exactly what we give. We will reap what we have sown:

Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

When we judge our selves by God's Word we can then be prepared to serve others. Every Christian is obligated to help each other grow in "Grace".

Only God has true judgment:

Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

These Pharisees criticized others to make there own selves look good, not before God, but before man.

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

There is a difference when we help our brothers to look good and not our own self.

If we cannot honestly face up to our own sin then while we are trying to get a piece of dust out of another one's eye, then that two by four in our own eye will not allow us to see properly. We can be of no help to anyone, the lost nor the saved.

God can see all the way into the heart, we cannot, no secret can be withheld from Him:

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

So we have learned:

1.) Before we can even try to help our brothers and sisters in Christ we must self examine ourselves.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

2.) We must also realize that as long as we are in this body of flesh we will have some sin. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that allows His forgiveness and He will restore us.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

*****A restored child of God can then be a help to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

As far as the lost, it is God that will judge the lost, our job is only to witness to them. Christians must realize that not everyone is a sheep.

Some people are dogs, or hogs, and some people are wolves in sheep's clothing.

This is the judgment that we have to make. We cannot allow the liberal church to pull the wool over our eyes.

God has given us some tools that we must use:

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Co 4:7 [But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God], and not of us.

We must not cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ by lacking discernment of good and evil.

We must be able to discern the liberal movement of the Church as wrong and as evil. We must stand up for the truth of the Gospel and in doing so we must judge those who teach such nonsense.

We must stand up for the Blood of the Cross.

We must stand up for the Virgin birth.

We must stand up for the Resurrection of Our Lord.

We must stand up for the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We must stand on the Whole Truth of the Bible and not just the parts we like.

We cannot allow these pearls of the Gospel to be trampled on by anyone.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

We cannot abuse the "Grace" of God.

We are to present the truth of the Gospel, judge among ourselves as believers and correct each other in love and also realize that to argue with an unbeliever will lessen our own testimony in most cases.

Even Jesus never spoke to Herod:

Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; [but he answered him nothing].

And the Apostle Paul would not argue with unbelievers:

Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, [we turn to the Gentiles].

Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Christ knew that there will always be those that will not receive the Word of God so He returns to some additional teaching on prayer, and our prayer life.

We must remember this sermon was preached to the saved, it is not a sermon for salvation, but a sermon of instruction to disciples.

Our Lord had rejected the practice of prayer that the Pharisee used. Jesus now instructed on the true nature of prayer.

1.) If we keep on asking, He will keep on giving!

2.) If we keep seeking, we will find!

3.) If we keep knocking, He will continue to open the doors to allow His will to be done!

You know not everyone is called to be a preacher, or a teacher, or for some special office in the Church but everyone has been given this instruction in doing the will that God has for each and every one of us.

4.) We must all be persistent in our prayer life!

The reason for answered prayer lies in the attributes of the true Father, Our Father that is in Heaven.

He will never mock His children!

It is the Father's responsibility to provide!

God would never teach us these things if He was not willing to do them Himself!

God's faithfulness as a Father will not permit Him to deny the request of His children!

We must first pray to seek His direction and His wisdom for our lives and His will for each of us!

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Some people call this the "Golden Rule" but in reality it is really the basis of our attitude toward others. This principle only applies to believers! When we judge others this is the principle we should follow. A person who would project righteousness must do for others what that person would want someone to do for him if he was in the same situation.

If people would treat every neighbor as themselves, no neighbor would be mistreated!

Christ would never demand the righteousness of the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven but He would demand the righteousness of the Law to enter in. To the believer, his righteousness must equal the righteousness of Christ. This can happen only one way!

The Bible says:

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, [who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit].

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 [And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness].

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

If we want God's best for ourselves and for others for there will those that will resist God's Word.

A couple of things we need to remember:

1.) We are the salt of the earth. Salt is a preservative but we also know salt will burn and sting when it is poured on an open wound. There will be those that will oppose us.

2.) We are to be a bright and shining light for God and Christ but we must realize a bright light will expose the dirt of evil living and some will always want to stay in darkness so their dirt will be hid.

We will always have Pharisees in our world. These false prophets are still trying to deceive God's children. They will still teach a self-righteousness. They have fooled themselves into believing that they are righteous and all others are sinful in the eyes of God. We must remember what God says:

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Christ gave us to more pictures for explanation:

There are only two roads to travel in this life. The road to Heaven and the road to Hell.

1.) The Broad way: (that leads to Hell)

This is the easy way, this is also the most popular way. Every religion seems to have this in mind when they tell us of their way to Heaven. Just because every one says they can follow their own path and that every road will lead to Heaven is simply not true. Just because they say this does not make it true.

God's people have always been a remnant. The Church will always be a small minority.

2.) The Narrow way: (that leads to Heaven)

The way to everlasting life is sometimes narrow, lonely, and costly.

We can walk on the broad path keeping our baggage of sin but to travel the narrow path we must give up all those things.

Jesus said the Christian walk would be a hard one.

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, [let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me].

The cross we bare will be painful at times!

Before we close let's high light the remaining chapter:

(Vs 15-20)

Since the beginning of creation every plant and every animal will reproduce it self after it's kind. In other words an apple tree will not produce bananas, and two cats will not produce a dog. I know what evolution says, but remember they have never found anything that has changed this basic law of God.

We know that good fruit comes from a good tree, but bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Those that have bad trees usually cut down the bad tree so it will not spoil the good tree. It is easy to see if you have a good fruit tree, wait till it produces fruit and you can tell from that point.

In a spiritual sense it is easily seen if a child of God has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior by the fruit they bare. If you do not have a noticeably changed life then the fruit is bad.

False Prophets, false preachers, who teach a false doctrine will have this affect on those that sit in the pews. The fruit, (the results of their ministry) is false and cannot last.

The Apostle Paul had these words:

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

You can still tell them by their fruit!

The person that believes a false doctrine will also never produce good fruit.

(Vs 21-29)

It does not matter what we think of our selves or really what others think of us, the final test of the child of God is what God thinks of us. What will God say when we stand before Him? The only way to prepare for God's judgment is to be in the will of God. Obedience to God is the true test of "faith"!

When a person is truly born again, that person will have the Holy Spirit living within them:

Rom 8:9 [But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you]. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

That same Spirit enables every child of God to know His will:

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; [because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us].

If you have the "love of God" within you, you will obey God and you will serve others! A light on a hill cannot be hid.

The words we say are not enough. Many preachers are not saved. Even Judas Iscariot was sent out to preach. Even miracles do not make you a child of God. Satan will use lying wonders to deceive the people during the tribulation period:

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We are commanded, with love, to hear God's Word and then, be a doer of that Word:

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

That carries with it a knowledge of God's Word. If you do not know God's Word how can you know if the preacher knows God's Word.

If our faith in the Word of God does not lead us to good works after we are saved then we are as salt that has lost it's flavor:

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

We have built on the wrong foundation!

Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Your false profession of faith will not hold up at the judgment seat!

How can we judge ourselves?

1.) Have we paid the price, do we have a changed life?

2.) Does our faith hold up through the storms of life and will it still stand the test of God's judgment.

These are questions we must answer for ourselves. We must look into that mirror and judge our own selves and this by the Holy Word of God.

Let's Pray!

The Decrees Of The King

THE DECREES OF THE KING

What is true worship?

Our Text: Matthew 6

Our Focus: Matthew6:1-18

The true righteousness of the coming Kingdom of God must be applied to our everyday lives of today. Christ had rejected the Pharisees and their interpretation of the Books of Moses. Christ would now show how they practiced, their worship of God.

This chapter can basically be broken down to two sections:

1.) The principles of relating our worship to Our God.(Matt 6:1-18

2.) Our relationship to material things.(Matt 6:19-34)

There were certain acts of worship, where by putting on an act, the Pharisees would make an outward appearance for the view of other lesser men. They took great pride in showing others how they worshipped. Jesus called them "hypocrites" and that's what they were.

Jesus warns us all of the danger of hypocrisy.

What is "hypocrisy"?

THE SIN OF USING RELIGION IN AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP YOUR OWN SIN.

A hypocrite is "NOT" a person who falls short of high ideals or occasionally sins.

A hypocrite "IS" a person that deliberately uses religion to cover up their sin and to promote his or her own gains. A hypocrite is "Lost".

Hypocrite in the Greek meant an "actor"!

The Pharisees were insincere and dishonest men who practiced their religion for the applause of men.

Christ will teach here that true righteousness comes from within the person. Christ Jesus will apply these scriptures to several areas of our lives. As we study this chapter we need to grade our own selves to see how we match up to these Pharisee. Remember these words from the previous chapter:

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ Jesus was teaching His disciples and He begins by telling them to be careful. (take heed)

Our Text:

*****Our Giving

Mat 6:1 [Take heed] that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

What are "alms"?

The Webster dictionary says of "alms": Any thing given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing, otherwise called charity.

The Strong's dictionary of Greek terms says: compassionateness, that is, (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction: - alms (-deeds).

Though the same rules could apply to your tithe, but this is not a tithe. In most cases the world will show a sense of admiration to those that give to the poor. This was the purpose of these Pharisees. They wanted the world to see how they helped take care of the poor of their communities.

Giving to the poor was one of three most important disciplines in the religion of the Pharisees. The other two being praying and fasting.

Jesus did not condemn these things at all but He cautioned us all to make sure our hearts are in the right place. If we do these things to gain the favor of men or to try to gain favor with God we have done them for the wrong reasons.

1.) No amount of giving can buy your salvation:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2.) To live for the praise of men is foolishness because the glory of man does not last:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

If we do as these Pharisee did we are perverting the act of "mercy". This approach to giving was so apparent that the entrances to the Temple were lined with beggars. These Pharisee would make a show of giving to these beggars.

These poor people were sincerely in need no doubt but they were caught up in the deception of these Pharisee.

Verse 2 states "they have received their reward" and are paid in full. There can be no further reward of God. God owes them nothing. These men were not "giving", they were "buying" praise. They wanted the praise of men so bad they were willing to pay for it. Sounds a whole lot like Satan doesn't it!

Our sinful nature can defile even the act of doing good. If we desire the praise of men we will call attention to what we are doing. If our motive is to serve God in love and to please Him, then we will give our gifts without calling attention to ourselves.

Three things will happen when this is done right:

1.) We will grow spiritually.

2.) Others will be helped.

3.) God will get the Glory as it should be.

It is not always wrong to give openly!

Act 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Act 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Act 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Act 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

We can see that Barnabas did not give in secret but he had the right motive and did it in the right manner. This is the same Barnabas that travelled with Paul.

We can also see again how the act of giving is done wrong:

Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

Act 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Act 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

Act 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

Act 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Act 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Act 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Act 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Here the act of giving was used to make people believe that these two people were more spiritual than they were.

To the New Testament Church God has these words:

Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

We also have these words of true success in the eyes of God:

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

*****Our Praying

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

At the time of Jesus, the Jews were much in the habit of praying in public places. At certain times of the day they always offered their prayers. Wherever they were, they suspended their employment and paid their devotions. This is also practiced now everywhere by Muslim, and in many places by Roman Catholics. It seems, also, that they sought publicity, and regarded it as proof of great piety.

A true relationship to God will be made known by true heart devotion to God, backed by all charity to men, by absolute sincerity and humility in the prayer life, by laying up heavenly treasures and by absolute confidence in the Heavenly Father to supply all real needs and overcome all troubling circumstances. This is what we call "faith".

The Bible says:

Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: [but the prayer of the upright is his delight].

If you want to put a smile on the face of God, talk to Him. He loves to hear from His children!

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

If you want to see God's mercy then pray to Him!

Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

God will listen to you when you pray to Him!

Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There is nothing out of our reach when we pray! If we say we love our family and friends and we have not prayed for them then we show God that we have no love for them.

Christ Jesus gives us four main instructions to guide us in our prayer life.

***1.) We should have a consistent, personal, and private prayer life "before" we can have a public prayer life. (Vs 6)

It is not wrong to pray in public!

The Bible says:

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Unless we are eating alone this prayer should most always be made in public:

Joh 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

Act 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

When we are seeking God's help:

Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

Joh 11:42 [And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.]

To be a hypocrite is one who will pray in public but will not pray in private(prayer closet) to our Father in Heaven. The observer could think you are practicing a prayer life that you do not have. You will be a hypocrite.

Our Lord prayed privately and He is our example:

Mar 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Other great men of the Bible also prayed privately:

Elisha:

2Ki 4:32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

2Ki 4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

Daniel:

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

We do not have to believe that these Pharisees went out in public to say all their prayers but we should believe that they were proud to be observed while they prayed and that they chose a more public place to pray. They were glad to be seen praying in public. It is the wish to be seen that is wrong here. Pretending to have a personal relationship with God is the worst of all hypocrisis. If praying in public is to gain you a reputation then you are wrong and are in sin.

Our Lord is not condemning these prayers but is trying to purify the act of praying!

***2.) We must pray sincerely! (Vs 7-8)

The fact that a request is repeated does not make it a "vain repetition".

Our example is a prayer of Our Lord:

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, [saying the same words].

We have also the prayer of the Apostle Paul:

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2Co 12:8 [For this thing I besought the Lord thrice], that it might depart from me.

For our words to be vain is when we pray without a sincere heart and not truly seeking God's Will.

Reciting memorized prayers could be an example of prayers just to be in the act of prayer not having the desire for fulfillment.

An example by pagan worshippers:

1Ki 18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

The vain and heathenish repetitions which we are here warned against, are most dangerous, and yet very common; which is a principal cause why so many, who still profess religion, are a disgrace to it.

A godly man once wrote: "All of us have one routine prayer in our system; and once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray".

If we examine our selves we will find this to be true.

GOD ONLY ANSWERS PRAYERS THAT COME FROM THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER!

Therefore we should be extremely careful in all our prayers to mean what we say; and to say only what we mean from the bottom of our hearts.

***3.) We must pray in God's Will! (Vs 9-13)

God gives all His disciples a model of true prayer. Jesus did not gives this prayer to be memorized and to be recited a certain number of times. Jesus does tells us all the areas that should occupy our prayers. Jesus said "pray after this manner". This prayer is a pattern for us to learn by. This prayer is not a substitute for our own words and supplications. The purpose of prayer is to glorify God's name and to ask His help to accomplish "His Will" for us, while we are still on this earth.

A.) Prayer must magnify the Father's Name: "Our Father which art in heaven"

A prayer must begin with God's interest and not our own. We have no right to ask for anything that will dishonor God's Name, nor to delay His coming Kingdom, nor to disturb His Will on this earth.

If the Father is truly not your Father you have no right to ask anything of Him until you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

When we pray we must realize that we are all part of God's family of believers. You have to be a believer!

Therefore a person's first prayer must be that personal sinner's prayer of forgiveness:

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1.) Remember God is the Creator and thus the Parent of us all.

2.) Our Father is the Preserver of the family and the Provider of all needs.

3.) He is the Father of all those adopted into His family, true followers of Him.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

B.) True prayer will involve worship: "Hallowed be thy name"

We must worship Our God.

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God ask this question in Ezekiel:

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: [but I found none].

To be saved is to be this man. To be saved is to pray for the will of God in our own lives to fulfill this request of God. To start then, is to first worship Him.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

C.) Prayer must be about the work of God and His Word: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven".

We must pray that the fulfillment of God's Will, will be realized on this earth. If we put God's Will first, then and only then can we bring our own needs to Him.

God will provide us with the means to do whatever it is that He would have us do but we should have that same desire in our own hearts, without doubt of His power to do so.

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, [believing,] ye shall receive.

Our mistakes are these in most cases:

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Jas 4:3 [Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts].

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

D.) Our prayer can then concern itself with our daily needs: "Give us this day our daily bread".

This is more important than we first realize, for it shows that we are dependant on God for even our basic needs and we certainly are.

When the nation of Israel was escaping from Egypt. God set in motion a means for them to have food daily. They had no means to store food for a long period of time. They were sustained by a daily supply of "Manna".

Jesus said:

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Not only do we need food daily to sustain our physical bodies we need the Word of God daily to sustain our spiritual lives. That Word comes to us through Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

That "Manna" had to be gathered every day reminding those Jews of God's "day by day" provision for all our lives.

God may not drop "manna" down from Heaven to us now but He does allow a means for us all to be fed daily. To the believer we should not forget the bountiful hand of God.

E.) Next our prayers must contain confession. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil":

God expects people to be forgiving. Through the blood of Jesus, God has pardoned us from all our sin. How then can we not forgiving to those we come in contact with.

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

We can see that God has tied forgiveness directly to temptation. If we cannot forgive then our hearts are not right with God and we can be sure the devil will try his best to take advantage of the situation.

"Lead us not in temptation" does not mean that God tempts His children.

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: [for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man]:

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

We are asking God to guide us in all manner of our life in this flesh, to allow His will to be done in our lives. We must be forgiving as he is forgiving and we must avoid situations that will place in temptation.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Our example:

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, [Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God].

****4.) We Must Have A Forgiving Spirit:

Jesus "does not" teach us that His forgiveness is based on whether we will forgive others. This would be salvation based on works and this would be contrary to the Doctrine of Grace. For if not for the "mercy" of God their could be no "Grace".

If we have truly been a recipient of God's "grace" then we will be in readiness to forgive others.

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Christ was teaching His disciples true righteousness not the righteousness taught of these Pharisee.

A Good Example Matthew 18:21-35.

Praying is a family affair: "Our Father". When the family cannot get along with each other how can we claim to have the right relationship with Our Father Who Is In Heaven.

When we are saved we are born into the family of God. Our prayer life tells if we are truly a working part of this family. If I am not in fellowship with God, I cannot pray effectively.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

If in salvation, I am indwelled with the Holy Spirit and I do not pray for my brother and sisters in Christ and yet I pray when called on in public, I am truly a hypocrite. God forgive me when I don't pray as I should.

If I am to be a witness to others I must be in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. We can see that this is a sign of being in fellowship with God and it is important to our prayer life.

If God answered the prayer of a hypocrite, He would dishonor His own name! By granting his request it would encourage that person to remain in sin. God will not answer the prayer of a sinner!

Psa 66:18 [If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me]:

Psa 66:19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

Psa 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

When we see the lost desire to be heard of God, we owe it to them to pray for them, to intercede on their behalf, for we have one that does this for us, his name is Jesus.

*****Our Fasting:

Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

The only fast God required of the Jewish people was the annual day of atonement:

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

These Pharisees fasted on each Monday and Thursday:

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Because these were the same two days that the Synagogues met for service we can see that they had an opportunity to display themselves.

Their fasting was not just meat and drink but they also would not wash or anoint themselves, they went barefoot, and they sprinkled ashes on their heads. They would make their faces unsightly to show that were suffering in their fast. They displayed themselves in an ungodly manner just to win the praise of those that observed them. They were seeking admiration from the people of the synagogue.

To simply deprive ourselves of food, or drink or even sleep is not what fasting is all about. Unless there is a devotion of the heart to God there is no spiritual benefit.

True fasting is a secret thing between you and God. If we have to look miserable to be in the family of God then how can we be a witness to the love of God. If there is no joy in salvation then we are truly a miserable people.

No wonder Jesus gives us this example:

Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

To use the ways of the hypocrite will rob us of our character:

1.) We pray but we will never have an answer to that prayer or any prayer.

2.) We fast but we will show no improvement in our spiritual lives.

3.) Instead of the eternal approval of God we receive the shallow praise of men.

4.) We miss the blessings of God in this life and lose the rewards of God when Jesus returns and any that could be in store in the New Heaven.

5.) We will be a negative influence in this world we live in. This is a noticeable thing world wide and the world will point out every hypocrite in a way to the show darkness in the Church.

If we are to overcome the wickedness of hypocrisy we must first be honest with God in our secret life, giving, praying, fasting and all things from the heart. The most important part of the Christian life is that part that God only sees.

When our reputation becomes more important to us we have becomes hypocrites!

Let's Pray!

The Desires Of The King

The Desires Of The King

Text: Matthew 5

Our Focus: Matthew 5:1-16

The sermon on the mount, as it is called by scholars, is really misunderstood by a lot of people. It is treated by many people in this world as God's plan of salvation but it is not. There are those that say it is the rules God has given the world to live by. This also is not true. There are others that say this sermon has no application for today's world. They are also wrong. The first thing to realize is that all scripture is given to us from God for a purpose:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We must also know that to reach that point of "throughly furnished" we must rightly divide the Bible:

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, [rightly dividing the word of truth].

This is simply the acknowledgement that God basically spoke to three groups of people:

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither [to the Jews], nor [to the Gentiles], nor [to the church of God]:

This includes everyone that has ever lived on this Earth but if God separates these groups then He had some scripture designed for each group and their purpose. Though we must not forget that all scripture is profitable to all, we must realize some scripture was given to individual groups such as the moral laws to the Jew:

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, [which have not the law], do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

But also realizing the fact of the "true Jew" in the eyes of God:

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 [But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter]; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Obviously then their are "Spiritual Jews" and there are "Jews by Nation". The term Jew comes from the old nation of Judah when the tribes of Israel split. A Jew is to Judah as an American is to America or an Egyptian is to Egypt.

This not complicated, It Is The Word Of God!

There are those that say that this sermon does not apply today and they are the most wrong [because there is never an instance in any part of our lives, where God's Word will not apply if it is rightly divided].

The Bible says:

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

If God's Word is settled in Heaven, who are we to question it here on Earth?

Jesus Christ will rule during the Millennial Kingdom with a rod of iron:

Rev 2:27 And [he shall rule them with a rod of iron]; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, [who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron]: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and [he shall rule them with a rod of iron]: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

These may be those rules of His rulership but they are given to a saved people who have buried their love of God in their heart and not to a lost people to try to make themselves righteous.

The key to this sermon may be this verse:

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Though they were self-righteous, most of these scribes and Pharisees lived by every word of the Moral Law and even added to those making it harder, No making it impossible to obey them all. Yet we still have this verse of Matthew 5:20.

These religious leaders had an artificial, external righteousness based on the Law. Christ Jesus describes a real, vital, and true righteousness that comes from the heart. The Pharisees concerned themselves about the miniscule details of conduct, an outward show, while Jesus emphasized the character of each individual, character that can only come from a personal, one on one relationship with the Saviour of this world.

Christ Jesus gave this message to the individual believer, not to the unsaved world. The Holy Spirit gave this message to every writer of the Epistles for the Church of today. Jesus gave this message to those writers and those teachers:

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, [his disciples came unto him]:

*****Our Text:

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

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

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We cannot over emphasize that though the importance of this message is great, It Is The Message Of "Grace" That Has The Most Importance In The Bible!

Many who change these priorities end up preaching a legalistic relation with God rather than God's mercy to those He loves. If not for "Grace" there could be no "Mercy".

The Bible says:

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our salvation comes from the "Grace" of God not these rules to live by.

At this time Christ Jesus was still preaching the same message of John the Baptist. John was preaching the coming of the King and the nearness of that Kingdom, and righteousness was the only way to get into that Kingdom. This message is still true but our righteousness can only come through the blood of Jesus. This message will never change until the Millennial reign of Christ has ended.

This message was never challenged by these Pharisees nor the Elders of the nation of Israel nor the Sadducees who observed the ceremonial laws. The only question was what kind of righteousness was necessary to enter this Kingdom?

THIS IS WHY JESUS WAS PREACHING THIS SERMON TO THE DISCIPLES WHO WOULD SOON BE THE APOSTLES!

1.) Was it the righteousness of Judaism?

2.) Was it the righteousness that comes by "Faith" in Jesus Christ?

Righteousness cannot be earned by works but only as a "Gift" from the Almighty God. Jesus Christ offered Himself as the only basis for acceptance by the Messiah into His Kingdom!(the kingdom of heaven)

*****Blessed:

The Latin word for "blessed" is beatus. From this Latin word we get the term Beatitude.

In the Greek it means supremely blessed.

To the Jew this meant "divine joy and perfect happiness". In the Bible times this word was not used so much for humans. It described the kind of joy only a god could have or maybe the dead.

Blessed implies inner satisfaction that does not depend on an outward circumstance for happiness!

The Beatitudes do describe the attitudes that ought to be in the Church and in our own lives today!

1.) Our attitude toward ourselves(vs 3).

To be poor in spirit means to be humble. It is not a false humility of worthlessness. It is being honest with ourselves, to know ourselves, to accept ourselves and to try to be ourselves for the glory of God.

Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2.) Our attitude toward our sin(Vs 4-6).

Those who try to cover up their sin or defend sin as is rampant in our nation now, have the wrong attitude. We cannot defend sinful living. We cannot defend abortion. We cannot defend the gay lifestyle. We cannot defend anything that goes against God's Word. These people who do have a wrong attitude toward sin.

We must mourn for our sin and despise all sin everywhere. We must see sin the way God sees sin and submit to the ways of God.

Meekness is not Weakness! "Meekness is POWER under control:

The Bible says:

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Again:

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Again:

Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

2Co 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

To be meek is to be among good company Moses and Our Lord Jesus and Paul were meek.

We must remember the righteousness of the Pharisees declared that they had No Sin in their lives but the righteousness that Christ demands is that we freely acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a personal Saviour.

Jesus Christ said the righteous are those that hunger and thirst, to have an appetite for the things of God!

The Bible says:

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

*****Our text:

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

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

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

3.) Our attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ(vs7-9).

Mercy is God's loving response to the needs of those that love Him and are the objects of His affection. To have known the mercy of God is to show mercy to all that are in this world we live in. That's what God did when He sent Jesus.(John 3:16)

To be in God's mercy we must trust in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Only then do we have a clean heart:

God's people must have a pure heart. Purity is not measured by what you practice but it is measured by the character of God Himself. Christ is our example of purity in the Church AND IN OUR LIVES.

1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

And God said:

Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

The Pharisees test for purity was conforming to their own traditions. How often do we see this today. Righteousness is not about traditions. IT IS about "faith" in the "grace" of God!

Only then can we be at peace in this life:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When we share these things God gives us with others, we then become peacemakers in this cruel world. The soul winner brings the message of peace to the lost so that all can be brought into harmony with God. To have peace with God is to be God's messenger!

The Pharisees taught that to be a son of God one ONLY had to be a descendant of Abraham.

4.) Our attitude toward the world(vs 1o-16).

If the Christian does not have a different attitude from that of the world then they need to go back to the altar.

God said:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If we do not come out from among them, then we have not obeyed God! A child of God should be on a totally different thought plan than the world. The world endorses sin especially when they can get away with it. The world is at war with the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus.

We must expect to be persecuted if we are serving God and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees declared Christ Jesus an imposter and that He must be removed. We know that in the world we live in especially in America, God has been removed from the schools, He is removed from any action in government, He is removed from His own birthday and from His resurrection. He is now being written out of modern translations of the Bible and most so called gatherings are removing Him from the preaching of His Own Word. To be right with the world you have to leave Jesus out of your prayer.

Well I'm simply not going to do these things because He lives in me and to deny Him would be to deny my own life. He is a part of me I will not give up!

The Bible says:

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

a.) Jesus Christ requires repentance but the Pharisee denied any need for repentance.

b.) Jesus Christ demanded that people recognize their need but the Pharisees recognized that there was no need for God.

c.) Jesus Christ ask us to submit to His authority but the Pharisees refused the only One that had ever met the requirements of the Messiah.

d.) Jesus Christ expressed mercy but the Pharisees withheld mercy from those in need.

e.) Jesus Christ expected purity of heart but the Pharisees were only concerned with an outward show of purity.

f.) Jesus Christ appointed people to be peacemakers but the Pharisees stirred up discord and strife among their own brethren.

g.) Jesus Christ invited people to accept persecution for His Name's Sake but the Pharisees were the persecutors.

We can surely see that the righteousness of the Pharisees was unacceptable to God on every point. We can also see that the world is still full of Pharisee want to be's.

*****Our Text:

Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

5.) Our attitude of influence(vs 12-16)

Can there be any doubt that Christ Jesus says when we get our attitude right that we can rejoice. The rewards in Heaven will come even if persecution comes.

To show the influence of this attitude adjustment on His disciples Our Lord used two figures.

a.) Salt:

Salt is used today as a preservative but in Bible times it had other uses as well. It was the function of salt to create a thirst so that the body may retain the proper amount of fluid. Salt created a thirst that, when satisfied, would maintain life.

If God had no other purpose for us after he saved us He would just take us on up to Heaven but He does have a purpose for every saved soul:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them [who are the called according to his purpose].

The believers are left in this world to create a thirst, both by their life and by their words, for Jesus Christ who saved us.

Saltless salt cannot perform this function and it is then no more than the sand that we walk on. Sand is plentiful everywhere you go, but salt was scarce in the Bible times.

What Christ is saying is that if we cannot maintain a good testimony after we are saved then we are worthless to Him while we are on this earth.

The Apostle Paul said:

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1Co 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

He also had these words:

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

b.) Light:

Light attracts to itself and it also exposes what is in that circle of light. Those that receive the words of Christ would be counted as light in the midst of darkness. It is impossible to hide a light in darkness.

A lamp is not lit just so it can be hidden. God does not save us so we can hide from the evils of this world. Each and every one of us are placed in a certain place so our lights will shine.

The Bible says:

Pro 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

The life of the believer is a light in this dark world. God reveals His lights to the world to bring praise to Our Heavenly Father.

The Bible says:

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Our Lesson may end here but let's highlight the remaining scriptures in this chapter.

Matthew 5:17-20:

How true righteousness comes:

In the law of Moses God did reveal His standards for holy living.

The Apostle Paul said to the early Church:

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Remember Jesus said that true righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus explained His own attitude toward the Law:

*****a.) We cannot seek to destroy the Law.

Jesus may have seemed to defy the Law by healing on the Sabbath and by paying no attention to the traditions of the Pharisees. Jesus associated Himself with known sinners and the hated publicans also contrary to the Law.

It was truly the Pharisees that were destroying the Law. By their traditions they were destroying the Word of God. By their hypocritical lives they did not obey the Law they claimed to protect. By adding to God's Word and in some cases changing it to fit certain situations for their own benefit they were embalming the truth of the living God so that God's Word no longer had life. Their rejection of Christ proved this to be true.

We now have so many so called [new versions] of the Bible that in a sense these books are stifling the life out of the truth of the scriptures. We need to learn from a Bible that is translated from the oldest scriptures such as the Textus Receptus. The one I use is the King James Bible.

*****b.) We can seek to fulfill the Law.

It is Jesus Christ Our Lord that fulfilled the Law and he will fulfill the whole Law!

1.) Jesus fulfilled the Law in every area of His life:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

His parents were sure to to perform every ritual of a Jewish boy.

No one could accuse Jesus of sin:

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Jesus did not submit to the traditions of the Pharisees because He submitted to the Law that God had commanded.

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Mat 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

2.) Jesus fulfilled the Law in His teaching:

Jesus broke away from the man-made traditions that had stifled God's Word and showed the World the truth of the scriptures. Jesus showed the World [a new and living way] that is still rejected by most religions today. To be a Christian is not to be in a religion, It Is Having A Personal Relationship With God! Jesus offered life, a real life that is eternal.

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

3.) Jesus fulfilled the Law by His death:

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus broke down all the walls of His people:

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We no longer need man made temples:

Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

We no longer need religious rituals:

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Col 2:14 [Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us], which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

How do we fulfill the Law?

a.) Allowing Jesus to work in our lives:

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

b.) Allowing Jesus Christ to live out His life through us:

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Jesus obeyed the known will of God, which is the Word that we have from God and we should do the same:

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

*****c.) We can seek to teach the Law:

This does not mean we ignore the New Testament and major in the Old Testament!

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. He teaches us God's Word and helps us to obey that Word. Sin is still sin and God still punishes Sin. We are certainly more responsible to obey God's Word because we have been taught more than any other people.

*****21-48)

1.) Murder(vs21-26):

Jesus did not say that anger leads to murder:

Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Jesus said that anger without a cause was the same as committing murder.

1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

2.) Adultery(vs27-30):

Marriage was given of God to provide for the physical and emotional needs of God's people.

The Bible says:

Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

We can see that there is a difference in marriage and other forms of living together.

The Bible says:

1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

The physical responsibilities were also God given:

1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Marriage is a benefit to society. God did not found society on the individual but on the family. It is individuals that make families and families that make communities and so forth up to making of nations. The Bible gives us the example of the Nation of Israel and tells us of many others that began with Abraham.

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God also designed marriage to be an object lesson of the relationship between Himself and the believer.(Bridegroom, Jesus and Bride of Christ, the Church)

Jesus Christ and the Church are inseparable. The marriage and the family should also be inseparable. Therefore God forbade adultery.

The Pharisees saw this only as an unlawful act of an illegal sexual union but to refrain from the physical act only did not fulfill the spiritual demands of the Law.

The Law of Christ demands not only abstinence but also the desire to do these things!

Christ says we can remove the cause that begins in our heart then goes on into our mind and then on to a physical action.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

3.) Divorce(vs31-32):

We must go back to square one. Jesus said your righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

a.) The Pharisees viewed marriage as a social institution governed by the laws of men.

b.) Christ viewed marriage as a divine institution governed by the laws of God.

God had said that when two are joined together they become one flesh. One is an indivisible unit so an indivisible union was established.

The right to divorce was highly prized among the Jew. It was considered a gift from God. In fact a gift that God denied the Gentiles. Their thinking was that if Christ denied divorce it could alienate Him from the nation of Israel.

Divorce had been permitted in Israel's past and we can see a reason in the Book of Ezra:

Ezr 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

Ezr 10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

Ezr 10:11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Ezr 10:12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

Ezr 10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

Ezr 10:14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

The purpose behind this allowance of divorce was because of the Law:

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, [because he hath found some uncleanness in her]: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

This uncleanness would be in that the bloodline was impure. A Jew could not marry outside his nationality and preferably from the same tribe.

The Bible said to Israel:

Num 36:6 This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; [only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry].

We can see that this stems from Abraham:

Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

This same process of marriage also was taught to the Church by the Apostle Paul:

2Co 6:14 [Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers]: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We can see then that these are the guidelines for a Godly marriage.

Jesus said whosoever put away his wife except for marital unfaithfulness would cause the sin of adultery.

The Bible says:

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

We can see Joseph would not have been ridiculed if he had divorced Mary even though they had not consummated their arranged marriage.

These marriages were for the most part arranged by the parents and this time of espousal was given for many reasons including this one.

It is the light of this context that Jesus made this statement.(vs 31)

The Bible does not teach that the offended mate has to get a divorce as we know Joseph took Mary and had many good years and several children. It is sad that the hardness of our hearts can lead us to do things that we would not do if we learned the ways of forgiveness.

Does this mean that those that marry outside these guidelines do not have a marriage under the terms of God. God forbid! Every effort should be made in marriage to keep them together.

The Apostle Paul gave us some guidelines for the Church:

I Corinthians 7:1-40(study the entire book)

Paul said:

1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Any divorce under these guidelines would automatically be permission to remarry.

If more time was spent trying to find the right spouse and then live as Christian should live, there would be less divorce:

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

If both parties have that God given charitable love, there would be no room for divorce because there would be two people that could not cause each other harm in any way.

4.) Swearing(vs33-37):

This not the sin of cursing. The Pharisees used all kind of tricks to sidestep the truth and using oaths was just one of them. They would avoid using the Holy name of God but they would come close by using the city of Jerusalem, heaven, earth, or some part of the body.

Jesus taught:

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Jas 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Pro 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Pro 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Pro 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

5.) Retaliating(vs38-42):

In the Old Testament we see:

Lev 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;

Lev 24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.

Lev 24:21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.

Lev 24:22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.

If we believe that these words meant that a person could take the law into his own hands then we missed the point of these old laws. You know it's a good time to mention that the Jews did not just have the ten moral laws but they had in fact 613 laws to live by.

These laws were written for those that were in charge to have a means to exact punishment in the name of the Lord. We can see that corporal punishment is also listed here.

A person who retaliates himself, or takes the law into his own hands only makes matters worse and the results are more a settled war and not by peace.

In order to turn the other cheek, we must stay put and not run away:

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, [that ye may be able to stand] against the wiles of the devil.

It is better to be hurt on the outside than harmed on the inside. It takes not only faith but also love to stand in the name of God.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

It is the strong man that can love and suffer hurt; it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts other people to protect himself.

This does not mean that we are to lie down and allow the evils of this world to walk all over us.

God has a reason for the things that happen to us and if and when these things happen we still have His protection:

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

God always has His angels watching:

Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, [to keep thee in all thy ways].

Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psa 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Notice the phrase "in all thy ways". This means these same angels can assist us in avoiding this kind of harm.

6.) The Love of our enemies(vs43-48):

The Old Testament states:

Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

No where does the Old Testament teach us to hate our enemies.

Exo 23:4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

Exo 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

Christian love is an act of the will of God. Christian love is not an emotion or some lustful thing. If you accept this teaching then you must accept that God has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all God loved us while we were still His enemies:

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

When we find a way to love our enemies it will take the poison out of our attitudes.

When our attitudes are right we begin to become more perfect in the eyes of a Holy God. We will look more like Jesus Christ.

Our Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children.

OUR JOB IS TO ASSIST HIM!

Let's pray!