Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Giving

The first of Jesus' three examples on hypocritical religion concerned
(A) Giving:

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:2)

To the Pharisees giving money was the most sacred of all religious acts. In fact the Jews used the same word, tzedakah, for both “righteousness” and “almsgiving.”

Trumpeters at the temple would announce when someone was about to pour a large sum of money into the money box, like a tithe, or in response to a religious vow. This was the signal for people to admire and build that person up for making such a magnificent offering. “Wow, that person must really love God, what a sacrifice, how awesome and holy they are!”

+ Why do you give what you give, and how big of a deal do you make out of it?

+ Do you find a way of working it into the conversation?

+ Is it a matter of pride that you give what you do?

+ What would happen if nobody acknowledged what you gave?

Let’s say even the person you gave to, or the institution you gave to, never said thank you to you.

What do you really love:
The good feeling inside when people admire you and approve of you and give you big thank-yous?

..........Or the satisfaction and joy of pleasing God?

It’s not wrong to be thanked and admired, in fact that’s a good thing, to thank people. But Jesus says if that’s what you really love, all the attention, then you’ve already gotten everything you’re going to get out of your religious donations.

God has nothing for you.

You’ve already been paid in full.

God calls us to take care of people in need,
* To give material gifts, like money and food and clothes and a place to stay, stuff like that;

* And to give spiritually, like the gospel, wise counsel, comfort, forgiveness and love, things like that.

* And to give emotionally, like friendship, time in relationship, to mourn and also rejoice with others.

But if you and I are just looking for strokes and admiration, there will be no treasure stored in heaven for us on that account.

If you look for status among people, you will get it, but you won’t have any status with God. You will actually be robbed of deep communion with God, and all the blessing of contentment, joy and spiritual power that being full of God’s Spirit brings, even though the gift you give might actually help someone.

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:3-4)

The secret is what’s going on in your heart. Not all giving is done anonymously, and that’s alright. If you read about the early church in Acts, everybody knew who gave what.

But the person Who counts is God. He reads what’s in your heart, and He will reward your love to Him as He is glorified in what you do, and as you grow spiritually.

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Jesus' Sermon: Going Deeper

Let’s pretend that you’re single and you meet the man or woman of your dreams. This person is amazing -- everything you could have ever imagined a beloved could be, and more. All the others just adore him or her, including you.

Now let’s pretend you and this person start seeing each other. Yeah! But you begin to notice something kind of funny. Your beloved only pays attention to you when other people are around. When you go out, it has to be with other people.

Your beloved is very affectionate, but never looks at you when holding your hand or giving you a kiss; instead he or she is always looking around to see if anybody else is paying attention to the fact that you are being treated so nicely. Your beloved doesn’t remember special days with you, not even with a card, or just saying “Happy Birthday,” unless other people are going to be there as well.

After a while you realize that you and your beloved are never alone together, and the couple times you happen to see your beloved alone he or she acts embarrassed and quickly gets away. How about it? This sound like a great relationship?

In His Sermon on the Mountainside, Jesus has been teaching on the theme of real righteousness. What does it look like; how is it different than pretend righteousness that's just done for show?

In today's text, Matthew 6, Jesus goes deeper.
(1) He talks about the difference between righteousness that reflects a real relationship with God, and what’s just posing, faking it.

(2) Jesus is saying that if the relationship is real, then the only righteous thing to do is to put your full trust in God.

Jesus gave three examples of using religion to cover up sin.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)

A hypocrite, in the biblical use of the word, is someone who deliberately uses religion, and religious activity, to cover up their sin and promote themselves. The Greek word translated “hypocrite” means “an actor who wears a mask.”

The Pharisees practiced their acts of righteousness in such a way that they would get maximum applause from everybody else. They were racking up points, in their minds, to obligate God to treat them well, and they were racking up points with the people in their community. What they weren’t looking for was the reward of an actual relationship with God, filled with a deep sense of His presence, His love and forgiveness.

Watch out, Jesus is saying, don’t use your Christian life to show off to other people, or show off to important people like your pastor so you’ll get their approval and gratitude.

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Blended Gospels: Jesus' Sermon on the Mountainside, Going Deeper

"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

[Blended Gospels: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 6:26]

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Jesus' Sermon: Daily Application of the Law

Think of someone you know you're supposed to love, and you can hardly admit to yourself, let alone anyone else, but you just don't love them.

You're searching around in your heart, and the love simply isn't there.

+ Maybe it’s a family member, or an in-law.
+ Maybe it’s someone you work with,
+ Or that neighbor you dread seeing.

How willing are you to commit, every day, to getting down on your knees and asking God in expectant faith for Him to fill your heart with genuine love, sacrificial agape love for that person, for God to spread love into your heart and spirit for that person?

--> How willing are you to start praying for that person instead of just about them?

--> Asking God to bring joy and spiritual wealth into that person’s life, to give them the desires of their heart, to seek their good?

--> Asking God to show you how you can be a blessing in that person’s life, then really doing it?

This is exactly what God wants for that person,

"...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(Matthew 5:44-45)

You will discover that when you pray for someone God begins to work that person into your heart.

The more difficult it is to love, the greater its power to change lives. But even if your enemy remains unchanged, or your persecuter doesn’t stop persecuting you, you have still experienced the love of God in your own heart and have grown in grace.

To love like God loves is to be perfect like God is perfect.

Genuine love must be just like God's love. For you and me today, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, this is what the normal Christian life is to be --
* Being a pleasure to live with,
* Being a pleasure to work with.

When you meet people like this, who are living out the genuine agape love of God, they are a real delight -- you love to be around them, you love to work with them, you find them pleasant and approachable. The power for all this comes from being constant, or faithful, in prayer, staying in communion with God, remaining consciously aware of His presence, surrendered to His Holy Spirit.

It is only through Jesus' righteousness that a person can enter the Kingdom of Heaven

A jeweler can tell with one look the difference between a synthetic gemstone and a genuine one. So can God instantly tell the difference between righteousness that just looks good, and His own righteousness that He has put in a person’s heart.

Jesus came to fulfill the law, which had always pointed to Messiah. True knowledge of the law, and true obedience to the law could only result in repentance and faith in Christ.

--> The scribes and Pharisees were trying to make God submit to them by rewarding them for their diligent observation of the law. But real righteousness far exceeds that.

--> Real righteousness, the perfection of God through Jesus Christ, is only given to those who humble themselves and submit to God.

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Jesus' Sermon: The Law of Love

The overall message you and I should be understanding in this passage is that there is no way we can, on our own, do what Jesus is saying here.

Even if we could muster up the kind of faultless and unflagging outward obedience that the scribes and Pharisees prided themselves in, we would still never make it in. We’d have to exceed that kind of righteousness.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Remember that in the Kingdom of heaven you are perfectly loved, inside and out, all the time. Unless you and I are perfect the way God is perfect, we have no hope of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

God understands our failure and has provided His own true righteousness, His perfect righteousness, in place of the righteousness you and I do not have.

Nobody can have true righteousness without repentance and receiving God's nature, being born again of the Spirit. It is given to us freely, without any contribution on our part, as we have faith in Jesus Christ. This is called justification, which means that we are now "made right" or "just" before God on the basis of Jesus' achievements.

God's kind of love, the love He has poured into your hearts and mine, through His Holy Spirit, is sacrificial. The king of kings set aside His glory and His throne so He could associate with the lowly, and finally He gave up His life so that you and I could live in harmony with Him.

He repaid our evil with His good.

This is the kind of love that Jesus said people would immediately recognize as God's kind of agape love, and it is every bit as sacrificial for you and me to display, as it was for the Lord Jesus.

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Jesus' Sermon: Perfection in the Law

(6) Jesus sixth and final illustration in today’s text has to do particularly with love.

Each time Jesus says the word “love” in this passage, He is using the word “agape,” meaning God's kind of love: pure, unselfish, sacrificial.

* You think about the other person and what would be the very best for them, even if there is a personal cost to you.

* The kind of love that flows out from the center of your heart, you really feel it, it isn't pretend.

* Genuine love has a cheerful heart which shows in your smile, in your voice, in your gentle words and warm affection.

Hopeful, joyful patience that leaves no room for complaining, or blaming, or shaming people.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' (Matthew 5:43)

God’s law actually says to love your neighbor as yourself, that’s back in Leviticus 19:18. But the Talmud, the rabbinical traditions, added the second part about being allowed to hate your enemies.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44)

Being kind and considerate, love does not want to hate an enemy, love seeks to change an enemy into a friend. This is what God did with you and me, He kept loving us, and provided everything we needed to become His friend.

Jesus added even more

"...and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)

The most revealing test of love comes when love is rejected.
* What do you do when someone twists your motives, doubts your sincerity, or repays your goodness with meanness?

* What happens when you are offended?

* When you work at getting along with people who are not friendly to you, who are on the opposite side of you, who persecute you in some way?

Jesus says love them and pray for them.

Sometimes you and I make up our minds to show love to somebody, no matter how hard it’s going to be, and then find out that we can't keep it up on our own.

That's because this isn't about gritting your teeth on the inside and putting on a command performance of being nice on the outside.

Love is not just an action word. Agape love is about being filled up, heart, soul and spirit, with God's love through the Holy Spirit, which overflows to other people in the way you talk to interact with them.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law is Love

Jesus was saying that love is generous.

You and I can recognize that we have received everything in abundance from God, so you we can give liberally, gladly, and freely. We can freely give
* love,
* help,
* money,
* care
* ... and whatever else God gives us to give.

Give what you have, give it generously, give in love and wisdom, just as God gives you what He has, freely and generously, in love and wisdom.

It will be costly, there will be sacrifices, but God's supply is inexhaustible, so don't worry about running out -- God Who supplied you with everything in the first place will supply more; you and I don't have to hoard what God gives.

This is a matter of the heart, a matter of love and wisdom.

Let’s say you have someone in your life who is an alcoholic and they’re begging you for a drink. Jesus is not telling you to give them a drink. That would not be the loving or wise thing to do for them.

What you can say, like Peter said to a beggar who put his hand out to the apostle, “I’m not going to give you what you’re asking of me. I am going to help you, though. I have something much better than what you’re asking for that can transform your life if you’re willing to receive it.”

God requires our hearts to be right, not just our actions

--> It’s not enough not to hurt somebody. Can you say you’ve never even wanted to hurt somebody, ever?

--> It’s not enough to have never had sex with anyone except your spouse. Can you say you have never even imagined sexy thoughts with anyone but your spouse?

--> Can you say that your “yes” is always yes, and your “no” is always no, that you never have to say “I swear,” or “I mean it,” because sometimes you don’t mean it, and sometimes you don’t tell the truth?

--> Have you never wanted to get back at someone? And it’s not even enough to run away from a mean person!

--> Can you say that you always stick it out, turn the other cheek, give your cloak too, go the extra mile, give generously, even to people who don’t deserve it, who have done evil to you?

Where do you recognize yourself in these examples?

This is the kind of righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees.

Jesus says that anything besides what comes from God's perfection comes from evil. You might be feeling a little overwhelmed at this point. By the time I got to the part about turning the other cheek I thought, “this is ridiculous! Who does this?!”

Hang in there, this part is the bad news, but there is good news.....

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Retaliation

(5) The fifth illustration has to do with retaliation,

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' (Matthew 5:38)

This was a famous law even in Jesus’ day, what the Romans called the “Lex Talionis,” the law of “tit for tat.”

It was an ancient and universal law, found even in the Code of Hammurabi. When God gave this law, it was for mercy. Before this law, people took revenge at a level above the offense. If a person killed someone, for example, then the family of that someone would come back, kill the the murderer and wipe out his whole family for good measure.

God put a stop to this kind of retaliation by requiring that the recompense should be no more than an equal match to the offense.

This principle is intended for daily life. In personal relationships, you and I are not to develop a spirit of retaliation – we are to trust that with God. It doesn’t mean that we can’t defend ourselves in a dangerous situation, it doesn’t mean that people who do wrong shouldn’t be brought to court. What it means is that you and I are called to give love and mercy in return for unkindness.

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39)

* If someone is mean to you, then you are kind and loving back to them.

* When you receive a hurt, trust God with it, and don’t give the hurt back.

* Stay faithful in relationships where the other person is hard to get along with, even though you would far rather not have them be in your life anymore.

"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." (Matthew 5:40)

If you are forced to give up something, don’t indulge in resentment and bitterness over it, just give back good for the evil that was done to you.

This can happen at the most mundane level.
--> Everybody makes you go eat at the Mexican restaurant even though you wanted to go get hamburgers.
--> It was your turn in line, and someone else cut in.
--> Your friend tells a secret about you and you are forced to admit it’s true.

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:41)

A Roman soldier could force someone to carry his load for a mile. Grace goes the second mile.

In all of these examples, God is interested in what’s going on in your heart. God loved you and me when we did not love Him. Time and time again we offended God, and grieved Him, and hurt Him with our sin. He continued to persevere with us until we began to love Him back. Aren’t you thankful that God faithfully loves you like that? He calls you and me and to show the same faithful love to the people He’s put in our lives.

"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." (Matthew 5:42-43)

* Who in your life is asking something from you, and it would be a real sacrifice to give it?

* Or you are reluctant to give it because they don’t really deserve it?

* Or you’re pretty sure they would not use what you’re giving them in a way that you would approve of?

* Or they are in no position to give back to you, or to repay you?

* Or you simply would like to keep whatever it is for yourself?

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Contracts

(4) The fourth illustration has to do with being genuine and keeping our promises.

Your character should be so honest that people who know you know they can believe what you say. Words depend on character, and oaths can’t compensate for poor character. You and I are to be trustworthy the way God is trustworthy.

As God’s people you and I are to be known as utterly truthful all the time, no promise given that we don’t intend to keep, no careless words, no sudden “I swear to [you know what] I’m not kidding, cross my heart and hope to die, this is the truth, I really mean it this time.”

That includes carrying through as a parent – no meaningless threats, no extravagant promises, just consistent follow through of doing what you said you would do.

Jesus said that by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned.

Our words end up revealing what’s really in our hearts.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'" (Matthew 5:37

What would it be like if you had a little tape recorder, and recorded everything you said for the next whole week? It would only be revealing, of course, once you forgot it was on, so you didn’t use your company manners. Anything you and I say that does not flow from the new life the Holy Spirit gives within us is sin,

"...anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:37)

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Divorce

(3) It makes sense, then, that right after speaking on adulture Jesus went straight into the third illustration, about marriage and divorce. Jesus was referring to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which explains that a man could divorce his wife if she displeased him in some way. All he had to do was give her a certificate of divorce, then they both could move on to marry someone else.

But Jesus said that kind of divorce made them adulterers, unless the marriage had already been broken by adultery. Jesus was talking about the heart, what was happening in the heart.

Throughout the Bible God says He hates divorce, but He never says He hates divorced people.

It is because of the devastation that divorce leaves in the people He loves so deeply that God hates divorce in the first place. Those of you who have gone through a divorce know -- and members of my own family have been through divorce so I know too -- how devastating such an experience can be. You break a bone, a few months later, it’s as good as new, isn’t it. You break a heart.... God knows how long it takes to knit your heart back together.

Be assured that when you come to Him for His comfort and cleansing, He will flood you to overflowing with His love and grace.

If you are troubled by a divorce in your background, then remember what Jesus said to the woman who was dragged before Him to be stoned for committing adultery.

Jesus told all the people present -- who were feeling very self-righteous by the way -- that whoever among you has not sinned, you can throw the a stone at this woman. After they all left, one by one, knowing they had no right to throw those stones, Jesus told her, I don’t condemn you either, you’re forgiven, you are free to go and sin no more. You and I live in the day of grace right now. Jesus didn’t come to condemn, He came to heal and forgive.

If your spouse left you, and you didn’t want this divorce at all, then God has something even more for you. In His eyes you hold a special place in His heart reserved only for the widows and the fatherless, people God has said, over and over again, He will personally protect, provide for and work justice for.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Adultery

(2) Jesus’ next illustration is about adultery.

Adultery is any sex that happens outside of your marriage.

People who love as Christ loves do not commit adultery. When two people allow their physical passions to sweep them away, the reason is not that they love each other too much. The reason is that they each love their own pleasure too much and love each other too little.

In real love, there is at the same time respect and self-control which seeks to build the other person up in Christ. Real love saves from sin. You cannot commit adultery and call it making beautiful love. In God’s sight it is the deepest possible betrayal.

Even toying with temptation,
* Reading books, or magazines that you know will excite those desires,
* Or watching a show,
* Flirting with someone you are attracted to
* Pretending to be single
* Looking at certain material,
* Or listening to that kind of music,
* Giving your fantasy life free reign
* Or talking dirty just for fun....
God considers all of this evidence of a betraying heart -- That's what Jesus was saying.

Jesus said it’s better to cut that right out of your life, even though it feels like you’ve just poked your eye out, or chopped off a vital part of your body, than to keep that in your life.

Why does He say that? That’s so harsh!

"For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."(Matthew 5:29)

Did you know it meant that much to God? Look at what Jesus said next,

"...if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." (Matthew 5:30)

* What have you been unwilling to cut off, even though you know it leads you into temptation and worse?

Jesus is saying deal with sin immediately and decisively. Don’t taper off, cut it off.

If you find yourself feeling helpless in this area of your life, that it has a stronger draw than you feel you have the energy, or even the “want to” to resist, then talk about it with a trusted, wise, spiritually mature friend or counselor who would keep your confidence, who would pray fervently and faithfully with you about this and help you think through practical ways you can develop fresh new thought patterns and habits.

Adultery corrupts marriage as the illustration of God’s love for you and me.

God's love is pure, and faithful, His love is whole, and that is what He desires from us, too. When you come to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God merges your life and His together, and He gives you His Spirit to live in you.

In a mysterious way, when a man and woman marry, the Bible says that their lives merge together too, and they become “one flesh.” God has given us marriage as a way of living this kind of love out every day, of understanding what it means to sacrifice for love, and to be faithful, to be pure and whole hearted in love.

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Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Anger

Jesus gave six illustrations of what He meant by “righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees.”
(1) Matthew 5:21-22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

There are all kinds of reasons that you and I get angry that, when you get right down to it, have only to do with our selfish interests being thwarted.

We didn’t get what we wanted, one way or the other. When you and I hold people in contempt, or put them down, or impugn their reputation, that comes from evil. God considers that as good as murder, it’s sin.

* People who love with Christ's love will not sin in this way because love never seeks to destroy, but always to build up.

Jesus gave an example of what this would look like in every day life:

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you" (Matthew 5:23

You’re preparing to worship God, or do your Bible study, or pray about something, and this thought comes into your head “You said some pretty mean things to that person.” Who do you think would help you remember that someone had reason to be offended by you?

Pay attention when the Holy Spirit is working in your heart about something.

"...leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:24)

Literally, do not delay another moment.

Sin never dies of old age, it just gets worse with time.

Call that person up, or write them a note; do something about it, in all humility and true grief for having offended that person and God. You will find that Jesus not only goes with you, He provides the words for you, and has prepared the other person to hear what you have to say.

When you obey God in this, whatever happens next is also in His hands, you have done what was right in His eyes, and now it is the other person’s chance to also do right. Then you are free to worship, and get into the Scriptures, and pray.

Jesus gave another example about going to court, and you’re both convinced that you’re right. Better settle out of court, while you still have a chance, in this life. It’s really better to do whatever you can, out of mercy, for the other person rather than stand on your rights, because once God comes into it, the judge at the court, you may very well be found guilty after all.

* What dispute has there ever been where only one person is a hundred percent wrong, and the other person is one hundred percent the innocent victim? Nothing gets past the Lord. You are responsible for your one percent.

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Blended Gospels: Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, Intention of the Law

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'

"But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil.

"But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

"Give to everyone, the one who begs from you, do not refuse the one who would borrow from you and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

"But I say to you, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,(G) pray for those who abuse and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

"For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

"For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

"And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

[Blended Gospels, Matthew 5:21-48, Luke 6:27-35 ESV]

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The Beatitudes: Light

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16

The Jews were very familiar with this phrase. The prophet Isaiah had quoted God as saying:

“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 42:6)

They called their famous rabbis “lamps of Israel." But they knew that it was God Who lit the lamp. They understood that Jesus was saying they must shine with God’s light to all the world.

The same is even more true for you and me today who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I have the presence of Christ within us. Wherever we go, there will be the presence of Christ. Think about how profound that is. You may be the only person in your family, or in your workplace, or on your block who has the Holy Spirit.

--> Who else will go to those people with the gospel, if not you?

Think about darkness and light. Which is more powerful? To find out, bring a match with you, and go into a closet in your house. Shut the door, so that it is completely dark in there. Then light the match. Light always dispels darkness.

When you have the presence of Christ in your life, you are called to bring Him to others

Outer righteousness without inner righteousness is like salt without saltiness; it's like a light that doesn't actually shine...

...It’s like a refrigerator that has bad food in it.

* What inner heart issue might be keeping you from being salty in a particular situation?

Being a lamp is not enough, your light must be lit by God.
* Who do you see in your life who lives in darkness?

* What can you illuminate for them?

* What excuses have you been using to give yourself permission to put the light God has given you under a bushel?

You are to go where the light is needed

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Beatitudes: Salt Of The Earth

It seems like Jesus was starting a whole new subject, about salt and light. But He was actually continuing the theme of true righteousness.

The Pharisees were concerned only with external righteousness. They tended to think of themselves as faultless when it came to spiritual matters, faultless before God and before people. In fact, it wasn’t until the former Pharisee, apostle Paul, understood with the Holy Spirit’s help that the tenth commandment actually had to do with the inner heart issue of envy that he realized he was a sinner.

Real righteousness is an inner matter, it has to do with having godly character, having a transformed personality, mind heart and spirit.

All Jews had God’s word stored in their hearts because they all learned it and memorized it as children.

God had invested deeply in His people:
* God had adopted them as His own people,
* He gave them the patriarchs,
* He gave them His glory to literally live in their midst, in the tabernacle and then in the temple.
* God gave them His covenants,
* He gave them His law,
* The privilege of worship of Himself in the temple,
* He gave them promises of an everlasting inheritance.
* And now He was giving them His Son.

They already were salt,

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." (Matthew 5:13)

You might be wondering how salt can lose its saltiness. In Jesus’ day ovens were built outside, made of stones that rested on a tile floor. In order to retain the heat in the floor, a thick layer of salt was spread on the ground, and the tile floor was laid over the salt. After a while the salt lost its ability to keep the heat in, so the tiles would be taken up, the salt removed and thrown out on the road, and a new layer of salt was laid under the tiles.

Jesus was saying, “You have been given God’s word, and were supposed to be living it out. But you’ve lost your passion for God. What use is it to have outer conformity to God’s law, when you have lost all your passion for inner righteousness? That’s like salt that has lost its saltiness.”

Remember that Jesus was teaching people to repent, the Kingdom of Heaven that they’d been waiting for was here. Now was their time to believe the gospel.

That same warning applies to the church today. God has invested much in His church:
* He has adopted every believer as His Son,
* Given us His word and His blessings,
* He has given us His indwelling Holy Spirit.
* The Church is the company of God's redeemed people, taken from every nation and tribe, every race and language.

The Church is called the "body of Christ" with Jesus as the head. Christians are connected intimately with Christ. The Holy Spirit is the unifier, drawing all the parts of the church into one single spiritual community.

The Church is a temple in which God is worshiped, Christians are the living stones that make the temple, while at the same time every Christian also serves as a holy priest offering their lives up to God. The church is called the bride of Christ, whom Jesus loves and for whom He died.

God has established The Church on the firm foundation of the apostles' teaching.

--> But what good does studying the apostle’s teaching do for us if we have no passion for God?
...No sense of spiritual need,
....no longing for inner righteousness,
.....no experience of God’s comfort and mercy,
......no experience of His forgiveness and cleansing?

Jesus is saying repent. If you’ve been doing churchy stuff, but have never yet discovered the blessings Jesus talks about in the beatitudes, then now is your time to believe the gospel. The Kingdom of Heaven is right here.

Theologians will sometimes refer to the invisible church and the visible church. The invisible part of the church are all those who are redeemed: those who are now in heaven along with those still living on earth.

The visible church are those here on earth who are involved in the church somehow -- maybe by membership, maybe by association. The Bible urges believers to meet regularly together with other believers, to worship and fellowship together and spur each other on to love and good deeds.

Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)

But not everyone in the visible church is born again. Because God can read hearts, He clearly sees the invisible church, but you and I can't always tell the difference.

The church today is always going to include both the visible and the invisible, the redeemed and those who go to church but aren’t believers, moving forward together in whatever the church is doing. Every believer, therefore, every member of the invisible church, every citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, should take part in visible Christian fellowship, so that we can be recognized as belonging to God.

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Beatitudes: Persecution

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."(Matthew 5:10-12)

* If you are persecuted for doing the right thing,
* If you are persecuted for being meek, for being merciful, for forgiving someone who clearly didn’t deserve it,
* If you are persecuted for bringing the gospel into a troubled situation, * If you are persecuted because you’ve been identified with Jesus, and the Bible...

The only thing left to do is praise and thank God.

You are being opposed by those in the spiritual realm who are enemies to the gospel. You’ve got to have this in your life if you are a Christian. This is sharing in Christ’s life.

The Bible is clear about this. The world absolutely loathes the Lord, with a bitter, active hatred. You and I can’t make Jesus all sweet and delicious to try and hide His Jesus-ness. To the people who are desperately needy and crying out for God, they won’t recognize a disguised Jesus. They need the real thing.

And for the people who prefer the world and would hate Jesus anyway, they won’t swallow Jesus even with a spoonful of sugar. To some Jesus is the breath of life. To others He is the stench of death. Don’t be surprised by the slander and false accusations, don’t be surprised by the meanness, and the smack downs.

The closer you get to Jesus, the more you will be like Him, and the more the world will recognize you. The persecution is worth it,
* Because the people Jesus is calling will know they can go to you and hear the truth about Him.
* Because it is proof that you are sharing in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Because it is confirmation that you are being sanctified.
* Because the reward of heaven is way bigger than anything you are going through right now.

And there is a deep bond between you and every other believer who is going through the same thing.

--> What persecution are you experiencing right now? Maybe God has placed someone near to you to be together with you as you draw closer to Christ and experience this part of His life – reach out to that person.

When you live for Jesus, you will share in His joy and His suffering

When you asked God to forgive your sins, and invited Him to make His home in your heart, He gave you His Holy Spirit. The Spirit is your deposit on the heavenly account of limitless blessing, both your inheritance for the future, but also an account you can draw on any time you want to right now. When you received the Holy Spirit into your inner being the Bible says you received "every heavenly blessing."

It’s only possible to even hope to attain these blessed characteristics with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling life and power working outward from within us. He is the One that brings the divine joy, deep contentment and inner serenity. And He is the One who makes it possible to experience Jesus’ life within you.

--> Which of these "beatitude" traits are you noticing God has really grown in you?

--> Which of these traits are you still not experiencing deeply? If you connect with, or are experiencing, even one of these eight characteristics ... be glad! You are numbered with Christ and He is at work in you.

If you don't feel that you have a particular aspect of the blessings of Christ, be encouraged. Count on the deposti that the Holy Spirit has put into your inner being. Ask God to help you in experiencing and living out that character trait with confidence that it really is already there, in your newly created inner being, just waiting for you to own it.

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Beatitudes: Purity And Peace

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)

The idea here is of something that has nothing added to it. It’s wine that hasn’t been watered down, gold that is 24 karat. It is unadulterated. It has been purged of everything but itself; it is completely clean. Using that sense of being unadulterated, purity also refers to a singleness of purpose, loving with a whole heart, instead of half a heart.

The reason that the pure in heart will see God is because they are able to see Him, their vision is not clouded by impure motives and desires, and because they are always, only, looking for God, and His hands at work, in every situation, every set of circumstances, no matter how mundane, or how awful.

* What impurities are fogging up your vision?

* How well can you see God working in your current situation?

“Oh how serene and joyful, and never disappointed, are those whose motives are pure and whose single passion is God, because they will always see Him, and His hands at work, no matter what.”

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9"

When you are right with God, you will know how to be right with people too. Peace is everything which makes for a person’s highest good, and the enjoyment of that good.

But the blessing is not on those who love peace so much as it is for those who make peace.

--> Not being willing to talk about the hard things and saying to yourself, “Well it’s because I don’t like confrontation,”
or
--> ignoring what’s wrong because you don’t want to rock the boat,
or
--> refusing to take action in a situation because you don’t want people to not like you,

....is not being a peacemaker.

You might love peace, but what you’re really doing is pushing responsibility for peace onto someone else, so you don’t have to do the hard work of making peace yourself.

* What trouble are you dodging?

Peace doesn’t come from evading issues, it comes from facing them and dealing with them. Making peace is active, having courage to get with those who are in the middle of the trouble, and bringing God’s truth out, being willing to take a few lumps as people deal with their anger and negative impulses, until the process has been completed.

IF
Your motives are pure, and your single passion is to see God at work, if you know the deep joy and freedom of having peace with God yourself,
THEN
You will actively bring this same peace to other people,

“Oh how serene and joyful are those who bring the reconciliation of the gospel to others, who produce right relationships with God, and with others, because people will recognize they are just like God’s Son”

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Beautitudes: Mercy

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)

Mercy is always undeserved. If it were deserved then it wouldn’t be mercy, it would be justice. Jesus stated a principle that runs all through the New Testament: Judgment without mercy is given to those who show no mercy.

The Bible goes so far as to say that if you refuse to forgive someone, then you are not receiving God’s forgiveness to you, either. You never want to minimize the forgiveness that God extends to you. Whatever someone else has done against you, whatever sin they have committed, no matter how awful, it is still far exceeded by the wealth God has given you in His forgiveness.

The wealth of the Lord's grace to you is so vast you are able to spare some for that person who has offended you.

The word Jesus used for mercy means "The ability to get right inside the other person’s life, so you can see through their eyes, understand in your own mind what they’re thinking and experience in your own heart what they’re feeling."

This isn’t just pity, or compassion. This is identifying with that person so closely it’s as though it were yourself. You experience together with that person what they are going through.

This kind of mercy is quick to forgive, and absorb the cost of the wrong.

Remember, there is a debt. Someone will have to pay it. Either you hold that person to the debt they owe you, or you forgive them, don’t expect them to pay it, and absorb the cost of the debt yourself. That’s what the king did, in the parable about the servant who owed money. Even though the king was wealthy, it was costly for him to absorb the enormous debt his subject owed him. But he so identified with the man’s misery in being poor, and unable to pay, that he completely forgave him.

When you long for righteousness, God satisfies you with Himself.
* He puts His own character in you.
* You’re rich now because of all the mercy you’ve received from God.
* You are wealthy enough to absorb someone’s debt against you.

--> Who have you refused to set free from their debt to you? Who do you need to feel pity for, from your heart, and show mercy to? They don’t deserve it. That’s why it’s mercy.

“Oh how serene and joyful, how emotionally and spiritually wealthy with God’s love and forgiveness is the person who identifies with other people, experiencing together with them what they are going through, and extends mercy and forgiveness to them; because the mercy that person gives that person will also receive.”

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The Beatitudes: Hunger And Thirst

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

What do you hunger and thirst for?
* For a certain someone to love you?
* To have a particular house, or job?
* To have a baby?
* To have more money, or possessions?
* To have beauty, or influence, or success?
Do you and I want righteousnes as much as we hunger for those kind of things? Do we want goodness, or virtue, as much as a starving person wants food, or as much as a parched person wants water?

This is a longing to be holy, longing to overcome temptation, to have the fruit of the Spirit, to love God passionately, to have all that God has for you, to be conformed exactly to Christ.

The way Jesus phrased this blessing, He didn’t mean “I am hungry for some goodness” or for “some” righteousness. He meant all of goodness, complete righteousness.

Often that is exactly where you and I fail. We’re content with mostly good, mostly righteous.
“I do my best!”
"I’m better than a lot of people!”
“That’s just my personality type!”
“Well, I may have my faults, but I’m generous and kind!”

Partial goodness.

Partial righteousness.

When you’re hungry, the only way to be satisfied is to eat. And when you hunger and thirst after righteousness, then you will only be satisfied with God’s word.

You might be experiencing this very thing right now --> you want even more than what your daily study is giving you. That’s the Holy Spirit within you. When you receive Christ’s Spirit, then you are filled with all that can satisfy your spiritual hunger.

“Oh how serene and joyful, how filled with God’s goodness is the person who longs for total righteousness like a starving person longs for food and a person dying of thirst longs for water, because that person will be truly satisfied”

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The Beatitudes: Meekness

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

Meekness is submission to God. When you submit to God, you end up rising above your circumstances. You want God so badly, and you are so aware of coming short, that you are able to take any help, any correction, any honest criticism that will help you to come closer to God and become more like Him.

You will submit to God’s will about anything. You are teachable, vulnerable, soft-hearted. You are eager to have others help you know your sin so that you can repent, turn away from it and enter into the joy of God’s cleansing and forgiveness. You don’t consider yourself as being better, or more important, than anyone else.

You fully expect to hear God’s voice from every believer. And you are eager to be a part of whatever God is doing. You don’t worry about failure because you know that all the successes will come from God anyway, and you will be able to enjoy them as much as everyone else.

You know that if you stumble, God will use even that to glorify Himself, and work out good for you and everyone else who loves Him. You enjoy giving your best, because you know God is going to take that and do something supernatural with it.

* When you know that you are desperately poor, and know that God has filled your empty spirit with His richness,

* When you have hurt so bad and care so much that your whole body aches with sorrow, and have received God’s deep, profound comfort, His forgiveness and acceptance, then you know better.

* When you are in a position of power in someone else’s life you have a choice. You can brag, lord it over them, have a temper tantrum, get all bossy.....

Or you can be gentle to them, loving, patient, wanting to help them, wanting their good.

The culture says: Express yourself, let it all hang out. Never mind if it’s right or wrong, if you feel good about it, then do it. Don’t get mad, get even. Give yourself a break, you deserve it. Look out for number one.

Jesus says, “Oh how serene and joyful, and experiencing God’s grace, is the person who is humble, who has submitted to God’s control, and is gentle with others, because all the earth will be theirs.”

Great leaders are meek, they have their place now, leading among the people God has given into their care, and they will have their place by Jesus side when He returns to rule the earth.

* Who has God given you to lead and care for? Would they describe you as meek?

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The Beautitudes: Blessedness

In each of these first eleven verses Jesus used the word “blessed.” It was a powerful word to the people who were listening to Jesus. It meant “divine joy and perfect happiness.”
* It is the kind of inner satisfaction and sufficiency that God experiences.

* It is the kind of serene, untouchable, self-contained joy that stays the same, regardless of what’s happening around you.

Happiness can disappear in an instant, can’t it, when something awful happens. But no one can shake the joy of blessedness.

Notice that verse one and verse eleven end with the phrase “theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The Kingdom of Heaven has several meanings to it.
* One day it is going to be a visible reality when Jesus returns to establish His physical realm on earth.

* Today it is a spiritual reality within every believer that Christ has come to make His home in their inner person, as Savior and as Lord.

* In another sense, the Kingdom is that realm where Christ is recognized as king. In the Kingdom of Heaven citizens are continuously loved, inside and out. That’s what we always want, deep down, and what we regularly fail to do, here on earth.

The angels have always lived in the Kingdom of Heaven, that’s why they cry “Holy” and glorify God. But for believers, the closest we get to experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven in our world right now --> is when we gather together to worship God, fellowship and study His word, when we devote ourselves to a local body of believers by becoming a member of a church.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

Imagine how quiet everyone must have gotten when Jesus said this. Jesus was saying “Oh how delighted and joyful are people whose spirits are in abject poverty, who are beaten to their knees in spiritual destitution, so desperate they are beyond downtrodden and oppressed.”

How could that be? Because they are poor enough to qualify as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. They know they have no earthly resources whatsoever. They are so humbled and helpless that they put their whole trust in God.

* What’s your assessment of yourself right now? Do you feel like you have a lot of resources left, or have you come to the end of yourself?

“Oh how serene and joyful, how deeply satisfied is the person who realizes their utter helplessness and puts their whole trust in God, because they will have the Kingdom of Heaven.”

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew5:4)

This is the strongest word possible for mourning. This is passionate lament, heart wrenching grief and sorrow over indescribable loss, or terrible sorrow -- over sin, your sin, others' sin, the sin in this world.

You care deeply. Your heart aches. Your tears flow. The more you hurt, the more you need compassion and comfort, and the more you are able to receive comfort from God.

The Lord has a limitless supply of comfort, that’s why the Bible says He lavishes His love, because there is so much love we just can’t absorb it all, we can’t carry it all, God fills us to overflowing, so His love splashes out and all over.

* Does your pain go deep, and have you been hurting a long time? There is comfort for you.

* When was the last time you got quiet with the Lord and began confessing all those little sins you’ve been hiding even from yourself?

Let God help you care about it, help you sorrow over those sins. God’s comfort brings a deep satisfaction and awareness of being forgiven, of having a fresh start with God, and real hope of becoming truly beautiful.

“Oh how serene and joyful, how deeply comforted is the person who is desperately sad, or desperately sorry, or whose heart is broken, because God has profound comfort for that person.”

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The Beatitudes: Genuine Righteousness

I was cleaning out my refrigerator the other day. My good refrigerator had some bad food, and even the bad food was disguised on the outside.

I cut open some perfectly good looking avocados, perfect color and texture, but they were black inside.

I sent my husband to work with some plump, firm green grapes, and when he bit into them, just about every one had gone bad.

I opened a bag of what should have been beautiful brown bread and instead it was a brilliant yellow, green and sort of creamy colored fuzz.

Once I got the refrigerator cleaned out, though, I was glad to have all that room for the new groceries I had just brought home.

That’s what the beatitudes are about. When you are empty, then there is room for God to fill you. And for something to be good, it’s not the wrapper that counts, it’s what’s inside that you’re after.

A rabbi was always teaching his students, by example as well as by talking, no matter where they were or what they were doing. But the official times of teaching happened when the rabbi sat down and his disciples gathered in close around him, standing out of respect for him.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (Matthew 5:1)

Jesus meant this teaching for His disciples, but we know from Luke that a large crowd had gathered, followed Him up the mountain.

He opened his mouth and taught them, saying...(Matthew 5:2)

The phrase “he opened his mouth” in Greek had a specific meaning: what was about to follow would be something very important, the saying of a prophet. It also meant the speaker was opening up his heart and fully pouring out his mind.

The word “saying” in the Greek means that these were the truths that Jesus always taught, this is the distillation of Christ’s instruction, what He was in the habit of teaching, when He sat down with His disciples.

The main theme in these verses is about true righteousness. The religious leaders of their day, the scribes and Pharisees, were concerned about outward righteousness, based on the scrupulous observance of both God’s law and the Pharisees’ rules, down to the tiniest detail.

But the Pharisees' kind of righteousness was artificial. It neglected what’s in your heart, what’s the real you underneath all that scrupulous obedience. Jesus was talking about real righteousness.

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Jesus' Sermon on a Mountainside

And [Jesus] came down with the [apostles] and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you, persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

[Blended Gospels, Matthew 5:1-16, Luke 6:17-23, ESV]

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God's call

God calls regular people to work for Him

Jesus saw His disciples' potential, He knew what each person was capable of. God sees our potential, too. You and I are regular people, called to share in God’s extraordinary work. Everything He brings into your life is God’s tool to develop your potential and make you an effective laborer in the harvest.

God is equipping you right now, even as you read this. He is equipping you in every situation where you apply His word to your circumstances. God is equipping you through every sacrifice, every good deed.

Every day that you study the Bible, that you pray, that you encourage each other and share with each other, every day that you talk about spiritual things, especially in the real world setting of each others’ homes, every seminar you go to, every principle from God’s word that you apply to your life equips you to be a laborer in the "field ripe for harvest."

--> What is your response to the needs God has called to your attention?

--> Are you ignoring them? Walking away?

--> The godly response is to be available and sensitive in prayer.

If you are a believer, the Bible says that Jesus has already called you and given you His Spirit. So are you in the harvest? If you’re not, what’s holding you back?

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Jesus Named The Twelve Apostles

The apostles came out of a large group of disciples, possibly a couple of hundred people. One morning, after praying through the night, Jesus carefully selected twelve men, whom He designated as apostles and

...gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. [Matthew 10:1b]

God doesn't wait to see what a person is going to decide before He acts. God is in control of His universe, nothing is outside the scope of His rule. God controls and guides all events for His glory and for the good of believers, and determines the outcome of all things according to His wise purposes. The Father chose who would be Jesus’ apostles, and they were willing, they were ready to say yes to the Lord.

By God’s sovereign design, Jesus only selected twelve, Matthew and Mark both listed their names, with some variations, as did Luke and John, and Luke listed them again in his second book, Acts.

Peter's name always appears first in these lists, and Judas Iscariot is always last, maybe because Peter, Andrew, James and John loved Jesus so much, and had such a deep desire be like Jesus, that they always ended up right next to Him saying “Oh, oh, pick me, pick me!”

Jesus gave them the same authority He had. Luke says the disciples got pretty excited with the amazing powers Jesus had given them, but Jesus told them, "Don’t get excited about the miracles, they’re just a sidebar to the real thing. Be excited about salvation, that’s what counts."

Maybe Jesus was thinking about Judas when He said, in the Sermon on the Mount, that not everyone who called Him Lord and did marvelous works in His name would enter the kingdom of heaven. Only people who have a real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ enter the kingdom of heaven. Maybe that explains why Judas’ name was always at the end of the list.

These were an ordinary bunch of guys, fishermen, tradesmen, no special education or religious background, no particular social advantages or connections. They represented a wide variety of personalities and interests.

Matthew was probably the most educated and talented, but he was also considered a traitor, collecting taxes for the Romans.

Simon the Zealot, on the other hand, came from a group of what we would today call terrorists, willing to stop at nothing to overthrow Roman rule. I wonder how Jesus got those two to sit at the same table?

The disciples' names were also arranged in pairs, probably because Jesus sent them out two by two.

There is wisdom in having a partner,
* Someone to pray with,
* To share burdens with,
* Someone to help you up when you fall down, and
* Who trusts you to help them up, too.
* Someone to fellowship with,
* Who will encourage you,
* Fortify you,
* Share the suffering and the joy with you,
* Who will tell you the truth even when it hurts,
* Who shares your vision and
* Is right there beside you in your work.

I can’t tell you how often the people I work closely with and I pray for each other and spur each other on to love and good deeds.

* Who do you partner with in God's work? Or,

* If you are starting to feel isolated, burnt out, alone, unappreciated, could it be because you have been working alone?

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Blended Gospels: Jesus Chooses Twelve Disciples

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

The names of the twelve apostles he appointed are these:
(1) Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),
(2) and Andrew his brother;
(3) James the son of Zebedee, and
(4) John his brother (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);
(5) Philip and
(6) Bartholomew;
(7) Thomas and
(8) Matthew the tax collector;
(9) James the son of Alphaeus, and
(10) Judas, son of James (Thaddaeus),
(11) Simon the Cananaean (the Zealot),
(12) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed [Jesus].

[Blended Gospels: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16]

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Jesus Withdrew

The Pharisees were furious with this challenge to their authority, and their position among the people. They had been demoted and undercut. They made a settled determination to put Jesus to death, which fell squarely withing the rabbinical law that whoever transgressed the Sabbath had to be stoned to death. This was their plan for Jesus, a holy killing.

The Lord’s response to their hatred was to withdraw.

He didn’t openly fight His enemies, but fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah,

"He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:2-3)

Who do you think the bruised reeds and smoldering wicks were?

They were the scribes and Pharisees, who had grown used to the authority God had originally given them to protect and teach His law. Their pride and sense of self-importance got in the way of seeing their own sin, and repenting.

Jesus was quiet, not fiery, even though that’s what they deserved. Jesus showed mercy in being gentle and kind.

The Lord’s withdrawal at this point was in anticipation of the time, from Matthew 14-20, where Jesus avoided direct conflict with His enemies. During that time Jesus taught His disciples and prepared them for His crucifixion.

* When is withdrawing the better choice, in your own circumstances?

* In what conflict might the other person really be a dimly burning wick, even though they've come at you really aggressively?

The scribes and Pharisees were no longer in touch with God, no longer in communion with Him, despite being a very religious group of people. Jesus knew that confrontation was what they wanted. So He withdrew to protect the time He had left to teach and train those who loved Him, were in touch with God and wanted to learn.

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Blended Gospels: Jesus Healed Multitudes

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon.

When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him.

And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

[Blended Gospels: Matthew 12:15b-21, Mark 3:7-12, ESV]

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How To Really Keep The Sabbath Holy

Jesus and His disciples had only recently been confronted by the scribes and Pharisees for walking through a field and eating some of the ripe grain along the way. Now, on a Sabbath soon afterwards, Jesus walked into a synagogue, probably to teach.

He noticed a man whose right hand was obviously withered. Surrounding Him, and the man, were Pharisees, standing on tiptoe and holding their breath. Would Jesus dare to heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath, and inside a synagogue, no less? Jesus understood the setup right away, and used it to teach an important concept about Biblical principles.

He drew the man over to Himself, center stage, surrounded by His disciples, so that everybody could see the man’s situation, and asked,

"Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?"(Matthew 12:11)

One way or the other, a person would find a way to obey the letter of the rabbinical Sabbath laws and still get his sheep out of the hole.

Knowing this, Jesus continued,

"Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."(Matthew 12:12)

Not doing good on the Sabbath day was the same thing as doing evil.

The other gospels tell us that none of the lawyers or scribes or Pharisees dared to say anything because Jesus had reasoned so well.

Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. (Matthew 12:13)

All the Lord Jesus did was speak, and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, as the man stretched out his hand, it was filled with life and restored. The Sabbath is about restoration

The Sabbath will be a delight when we honor it as a holy day to the Lord

The Old Testament Sabbath pointed to Christ and the rest He would bring to His people spiritually.

The Sabbath was not abolished in Christ; it was fulfilled in Christ. He is our rest. It is a day to celebrate Him!

Contrary to the religious leaders, Jesus' yoke is easy. They made the Sabbath a burden instead of a celebration. God means the Sabbath to be a time of rest, delighting in Him through worship and doing good. Like no other day, it is for our spiritual refreshment, and our inward restoration.

It takes planning to make the Sabbath the Lord’s, and sacrifice. It is not unlawful to do the necessary on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for us to enjoy. I can honestly say that the day our family has set aside as a Sabbath (Sunday, for us) is my absolute favorite day of the week.

* In what ways can you set aside one day a week to delight in the Lord and do what would please Him, as well as refresh your spirit?

* In what ways has the "Sabbath" (usually Sunday) felt like a burden?

* How can you make the Sabbath day more restful, more delightful, than any other day?

* How will the way you handle your child’s sport commitments, or your other obligations, harmonize with keeping the Sabbath holy?

* In what ways can you prepare ahead of time so that your family will look forward to the Lord’s day? You need to be proactive, making decisions ahead of time, then keeping to them when the time comes.

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Blended Gospels: The Next Sabbath Controversy

On another Sabbath, [Jesus] entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.

But he knew their thoughts, and he said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Then he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there.

And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" But they were silent.

And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored, healthy like the other.

But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there.

[Blended Gospels: Matthew 12:9-15a, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11, ESV]

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