Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Fasting

Jesus' third example of religious hypocrisy concerned
(C) Fasting:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:16)

The only fast that God required of His people was on the day of atonement, but the Pharisees fasted twice a week, Monday and Thursday, making sure everybody knew it so they could be congratulated on their holiness. All they were interested in was other people’s admiration, so they lost out on any blessing their fasting would have brought from God.

Fasting is good and right. Jesus fasted, and He said that sometimes something can’t be accomplished without both prayer and fasting.

Fasting helps to discipline our appetites and keep our spiritual priorities straight.

Judicious fasting has long been known to be good for your health. When you fast you are disciplining rather than indulging your appetite, which strengthens your ability for self-discipline and self-control in other areas of your life, too.

Pleasure and habit don’t become our masters.

Fasting gives you the courage to do without something, and strengthens your faith that you can persevere. Fasting helps you to appreciate all that God gives you. You know how to say thank you when you’ve done without.

This is private and intimate, between you and God.
(1) When you fast in order to be in a deeper communion with the Lord
(2) Then do it quietly, unobtrusively, so that it truly is a holy fast. (3) Fast in a way that does not drag everyone down with you,
(4) But that is uplifting and joyful, a pleasurable gift to God,
(5) And a deeper humbling of yourself.

Real righteousness is anchored in a vibrant relationship with God

It's all about the love -- this is for You, Lord, because I love you. It's intimate. You don’t even want other people to be looking in, because this is personal.

Worship of God contains three essential elements:
--> Generosity,
--> Communion with God
--> Self control

Real lovers of God commune with God, sustained by prayer that brings joy and spiritual energy, because it is focused on the love affair with God Himself, wanting always to do what pleases Him and is within His will.

* In what ways can your prayer life become more personal and intimate with God?

Real lovers of God control their own impulses to over-consume what God gives them, or to hoard God's wealth.

* In what area of your life might God be calling you to fast from as a matter of worship and devotion to Him?

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. It is His pleasure to give to us. Real lovers of God worship Him by joyfully sharing His spiritual and material wealth with others in a way that upholds the receiver’s dignity and deflects attention from the giver.

* What do you have that you now see God is calling you to share with someone else, as a matter of generous love towards God Himself?

If you and I do not worship the wealth, but worship God alone, this sharing ends up making all of us rich. God rewards the one who gives out of love for Him. Those who receive what is given are also richer.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

Jesus' Sermon: The Lord's Prayer

The Lord Jesus gave a pattern for prayer to His disciples

“This, then, is how you should pray" (Matthew 6:9)

(1) Beginning with worship and reverent love,

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9)

Believe that you are in the throne room of God, kneeling at His feet, with His hand lovingly placed on you. He is your Father, and you are His favored child, part of His family, and what you will ask our Father for is to benefit the whole family

(2) Consecrate yourself by aligning your heart, mind, will and spirit with God’s will.

"your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10)

Let it be your deepest most heartfelt desire to be an active part of God setting things right on earth, just as they are right and good in heaven. Humble yourself completely under God’s hand.

(3) God already knows your needs, but now you are ready to bring you personal need to God, your material bread, and your spiritual bread, because you will now trust God’s provision, and will know how to use it in the right way.

"Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11)

“Father, please grant me the sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in Your wise and Fatherly disposal in every condition. Help me to be satisfied with Your loving provision in any and every situation”

(4) Recognize your need for God’s forgiveness, and for His power to forgive the people in your life.

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12)

Once you receive God’s forgiveness, then out of that wealth of His cleansing, comfort and deep acceptance, you will have the ability to forgive all the sins that people do to you.

Listen to Him carefully, because the Lord will help you to realize the people you need to go to, to forgive, to ask forgiveness from and who you need to ask to be reconciled with. This is what living the gospel is all about.

(5) Immediately you are going to be tempted to live for yourself instead, to please yourself and not God, so pray for protection,

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13)

(6) Praise God, full of faith that He is good, He is loving, He is powerful, He is sovereign! He can and will do all of this and more.

We must have a forgiving spirit towards others for our prayer to be real:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

God has made it clear that when you and I cherish sin in our hearts, our prayers are going to be without effect. To have fellowship with God, you have to live out the gospel experiencing God’s forgiveness both from Him to yourself, and through you to others.

The important thing about prayer is not so much about getting an answer from God, but being the kind of person that God will trust with an answer. Without receiving something from God, through prayer, you and I will not have anything of worth to offer anyone else.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

Jesus' Sermon: Intention of the Law on Prayer

The second of Jesus' examples of hypocritical religion concerned prayer
(B) Prayer:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5)

All prayer is meant to be for God. Prayer is talking with God. You and I speak to God in prayer; He speaks to us through the Bible and His Spirit.

Often it is a good start to begin by listening to the Lord first in Scripture, understanding what He wants for you and what He wants to do through you, then respond to Him in prayer.

What do you say, how do you talk, when you are face to face with God? You may not use the most eloquent, beautiful language, you may not finish your sentences perfectly, you may not have a sensible outline for your prayer.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

“Closet” means “a private room.” Go into a room by yourself and shut the door. Be alone with the Lord, so that you can freely pour out your heart to Him, and not be distracted as God pours out His heart and mind to you. You can pray out loud, on your knees before God, humbled before Him, without even a hint of self consciousness.

(1) We need to pray in secret before we pray in public: It isn’t wrong to pray in public, it’s good and right. Praying together is one of the most intimate things believers can experience together. But pray privately with God first, get right with Him first. It is wrong to pray in public if you are not in the habit of praying in private.

(2) We must pray sincerely: When you pray together, it can quench the Holy Spirit’s movement among you when
--> One person dominates the prayer time with long speeches that end up being a lecture for the people present, and not real prayer to God Himself.

You can quench the Spirit’s intercession through you by
--> Trying to think up holy sounding words instead of praying what the Spirit puts in your heart to say.

You can quench the Spirit’s leading when you
--> Run out of things to say, but still keep talking.

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8)

Repeating a petition to God is not “vain repetition.” Jesus prayed about the same thing three times in a row in the Garden of Gethsemane.

A ”vain repetition” is when you just say the same words, but in your heart you aren’t really seeking God or His will.

* You might be wanting God to do your will;
* Or you might not be invested in what you’re praying about;
* You might be checking it off the list, so you can say you prayed about it;
* Or you might not even be thinking about what you’re saying.

Reciting a beautiful poem to somebody you love can be incredibly moving when you put your heart and soul into it. Praying memorized prayers can be the same. But when you are not thinking about what you’re saying, you’re just getting the job done, that’s “vain repetitiom."

(3) We must pray within God’s will: The purpose of prayer is to glorify God’s name, and ask for help to accomplish His will on earth.

(4) Prayer begins with God’s interests: God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. You and I can’t get anywhere by praying for something that would dishonor God’s name, delay His kingdom or go against His will.

Prayer involves each person of the Trinity.
* You and I pray to God the Father.
* We pray through the Lord Jesus Christ, that's why we often say "for Jesus' sake," because it's on behalf of Jesus' atonement that God allows us to come right up to Him in His holy of holies, the throne room of heaven.
* Being born again, God has put His Holy Spirit in us, so that you and I come to God in the Holy Spirit when we commune with Him.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.....

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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?

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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)

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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]

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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”

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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.”

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

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”

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation