October 10: Matthew 5-7

October 10, Matthew 5-7

Matthew continued… Many a scholar have written large volumes on these 3 chapters and I am going to try to do this in simple format. There is so much here - I would recommend you digging in deep to study it! From Proverbs 19 and how we can apply Matthews teaching to us today with purpose- “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Matthew 5 This is the famous account of the sermon on the mount. Jesus saw a huge crowd and people were surrounding Him so he spoke to them about what life looks like for a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

The Beatitudes 

• Defining the life of a disciple and the blessings that are ours when we walk humbly in Him, take care of others and pursue only Him
• We will be blessed in this life and the next
• Even when we are falsely accused because we follow Jesus we are blessed and rewarded from God Himself in Heaven

Salt & Light

• People should be able to ‘see’ & ‘taste’ your love for Christ - it should be self evident with the intent of giving glory to God

Christ & the Law

• Jesus didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it - the entirety of the Old Testament points to Christ and He was what they all had looked forward to. With the Old Testament pointing to Jesus and Him fulfilling it - we have what we need
• Our lives must be righteous, more than that of the Pharisees or we will not enter heaven. They were very ‘religious’ but not righteous. We must get rid of all moral filth in our lives and it must show

Anger

• Jesus is taking the commandments and fulfilling them - it is about our heart and not just our ‘actions’ that we do… keep reading!
• Do not hate. Not just don't kill people, don't hate people or we will be judged. If you have a problem with someone - drop whatever you are doing and go make it right with haste
• From the writers of shmoop.com - “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” - Jesus

Lust

• Porn. Infidelity. Basically - if you look at a person with sexual intent/lust then you have committed adultery. Yeah - literally it is as if you have had sex with them because in your heart you wanted to. This cannot be overstated - a Christ follower has no option when it comes to lust - eradicate the sin before it takes you to hell. 

Divorce

• Jesus is not playing around here! There is no Biblical grounds for divorce except adultery. If you divorce your wife for any other reason, whoever marries her will be committing adultery, as will she. I believe the same goes for men…

Oaths

• Don’t take oaths. Be a man or a woman of your word and stand behind it. 

Revenge

• Love your enemies and pray for them - that shows that you are a child of God. Don't retaliate against your enemies. God takes care of all “…For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Pursue Christ in all you do - be perfect as God is perfect… from my ESV study Bible, “As Christians seek to live in conformity to Scripture, the are in fact pursuing the very perfection of God.”

Matthew 6

Needy people

• Give to those in need. When you do - remember that it is not about you but about Glorifying God. If you give to be known for your giving, that is your reward. Better will be for you if you do it in secret and God will bless you for it with your reward being in Heaven. Live your life in expectation of being in God’s Glory someday

The Lord’s Prayer

• Obviously a very famous prayer. Jesus warns us against making lofty prayers with big words - don’t show off when you are talking to God in front of other people. Public prayer is good, but praying with you and God is even better. 
• Prayer to God - trust Him to work it out. Long for God’s return. Pray His will. Pray He grants you your needs. Pray He forgives you. Pray He keeps you from temptation. Pray He delivers you.
• Forgive others so you will be forgiven - yeah. Literally. You don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive you.

Fasting

• Fast. When you do, don't make a show out of it so that everybody knows how hungry you are. Fast for God who sees you and nobody else needs to know about it. Don't be a hypocrite when you fast. 

Treasures in Heaven or earth?

• Where is your heart? Don’t hoard everything and try to have ‘your best life now’ - rather live with an eternal perspective. “For where your treasure is your heart will also be.” Where is your heart? 
• Nobody can serve 2 masters - you cannot serve both God and money (even though we often try to…).

Relax and stop trying to control everything

• Don’t worry about everything. God will provide. Yes, you still have a job to do - but it is God who takes care of us. Live like that & you will be much better off. 
• God takes care of everything, including feeding birds and keeping them alright. How much more valuable are you than a bird? Even Solomon was not dressed as nice as the lilies of the field - which God cares for - so what are we worried about? He will and does take care of us, His way. 
• “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you…” Where is your heart? Seek Him 1st and everything works out. 
• Boom - “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Baby steps - one in front of the others is how we are to live…

Matthew 7

Judging others

• Don’t judge others or you will be judged. On top of that, how you judge others (how much and harsh) will be how God judges you… Ooooh - we are guilty aren't we? Let us then purse what Christ is calling us to. Like we learned the other day, don’t point out the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye when you have log in your own eye…
• Also - don’t throw pearls to pigs. Some people will flat out reject Scripture. Leave it at that. They will take God’s Word and trample it. Instead, invest your time in sharing God’s Word to those who will listen.

Ask and it will be given - God is not a genie in a bottle…

• Go to God first and let Him know what you need. Like a good Father, He will take care of you because He knows what is best for you. 

The Golden Rule

• I am sure you have heard it - but think about this… Treat others how you want to be treated. Can you live like that?
• The way to God is a hard life and not many will actually find it. It is much easier to take the path to destruction when will neglect God. Find Jesus and stick with Him and you will enter Heaven - live for yourself and like a pagan and you will not. 

Fruit

• Are you a healthy tree? It is easy enough to tell by the fruit of your life. What is coming out of your life, is it healthy or unhealthy?

Who are you?

• Not everyone who says God’s name will enter heaven - even some that do some work for God. If you are not 100% in for Christ and your heart is not for Him - would He call you a child of His then? That wouldn't make any sense if He did. Instead, your kids love you and serve you - same with God. 

Build your house on the rock!

• Build your ‘house’ on God - nothing else. You will be able to withstand life’s storms when you are anchored in Christ. Anchor yourself in the world and you will be swept away…

To sum it all up: 

• Well, that was awesome! Take some time and meditate on some of these parables - apply them well and you will be on your way to a righteous life. Go do it!