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Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-16; Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:17-26; Matthew 5:13-48; Luke 6:27-36; Matthew 6:1-4<\/strong><\/span> Matthew:<\/strong> Okay, today is a big day my friends!\u00a0 We are starting the Sermon on the Mount!\u00a0 Whoo-hoo! (are you cheering here with me?? \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 And as we do, let me encourage you in a few ways on what we\u2019ll be reading here.\u00a0 First of all, personally, these 3 chapters of Matthew (5, 6, 7) have been transformative for me over the years.\u00a0 Before I had faith in Jesus, I would continually read these chapters and I kept thinking to myself \u2013 \u201cThis guy has got some wisdom!\u00a0 I like what he\u2019s saying!\u201d\u00a0 And I do believe that the Spirit was no doubt working on me as I read these chapters.\u00a0 So, I do ask that you would be sensitive to the Spirit as you read The Sermon on the Mount.\u00a0 What is the Spirit speaking to you as you read?\u00a0 Which verses are really jumping out at you \u2013 maybe making you think about some areas of your life that might need some tidying up\u2026\u00a0 I know that this happens to me every <\/em>time I read the Sermon on the Mount.\u00a0 It\u2019s probably because of reading chapter 5 today, and the Beatitudes, that I went into my pride \/ Tower of Babel thing above\u2026\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s my other big request for you as you read through the Sermon on the Mount \u2013 and really all of the gospels.\u00a0 Try to experience what you are reading as something more than just \u201chistorical\u201d teachings or \u201chistorical\u201d readings.\u00a0 Try to envision yourself maybe down at your local park and maybe imagine that Jesus was actually at that park surrounded by a bunch of your neighbors and imagine that you heard Jesus actually saying these words to you and your neighbors \u2013 today.\u00a0 Would this change your perception of what you are reading?\u00a0 Or, maybe imagine that indeed Jesus is not just at your local park \u2013 but in your very home saying these words to you.\u00a0 \u00a0And truly \u2013 He is \u2013 as you are reading the Bible you are hearing directly from Jesus.\u00a0 I just want to encourage you that the words you read here in the Sermon on the Mount are incredible spiritual food.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t think we can come back to these 3 chapters of Matthew often enough. I pray that you will let the Spirit of Jesus speak directly into your mind and your heart as you read and meditate on the meanings of these 3 chapters of the gospel of Matthew\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n We read the Beatitudes today!\u00a0 I would love to share with you the Beatitudes from Eugene Peterson\u2019s paraphrase of the Bible called The Message.\u00a0 I really like the way he looks at the Beatitudes \u2013 I know verses 17 & 18 probably are interpreted in different ways \u2013 but a friend of mine has encouraged me when in doubt, just stick to the text, which is wise.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s look at the Jesus\u2019 words here in this text \u2013 \u201cDon\u2019t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.\u00a0 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God\u2019s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0What does the reading of this text say to you?<\/span><\/p>\n And now that we\u2019ve looked at the text\u2026 I need to dive into a commentary on these verses\u2026 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m quoting this from Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible Companion book \u2013 which I have found to be a very helpful commentary to our daily readings:\u00a0 \u201cIn the Old Testament, there were 3 categories of law:\u00a0 ceremonial, civil, and moral.\u00a0 1.\u00a0 The ceremonial law<\/strong> was related specifically to Israel\u2019s worship.\u00a0 Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws are therefore no longer necessary after Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection.\u00a0 However, the principles behind these laws \u2013 to worship and love a holy God \u2013 still apply.\u00a0 2. The civil law<\/strong> applied to daily living in Israel and these laws cannot be followed specifically today in our modern society and culture.\u00a0 But the principles behind theses laws are timeless and should guide our conduct. 3.\u00a0 The moral law<\/strong> (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God, and requires obedience.\u00a0 The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0So, there you have it from one evangelical commentary.\u00a0 I know probably different people reading this blog are going to interpret these verses a bit differently.\u00a0 This framework of these 3 categories of laws above and their fulfillment in Jesus I personally have found helpful and agree with.\u00a0 One other commentary I found related to these verses says this: \u201cChrist does not terminate the law. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; we establish the law. (Romans 3:31)<\/em> The law will always be there to point out what sin is, but the law is not the focus, Christ is the focus. Only He can cleanse, and sanctify and change the heart and mind.\u201d\u00a0 Again, I know this can be a hot topic to say the least.\u00a0 I recommend everyone please spend a few minutes reading this wonderful article on this topic from Bible.org titled, \u201cThe Mosaic Law: Its Function and Purpose in the New Testament,\u201d at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings today in Matthew titled \u201cThe Beatitudes\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cA Pinch of Salt in the Recipe for Persecution\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 5:27-30 are Jesus\u2019 teachings about adultery.\u00a0 And really I think these teachings, along with many others in the Sermon on the Mount, are even more so about what is going on inside our hearts.\u00a0 Jesus discusses how the law says clearly how we are \u201cnot to do\u201d something \u2013 it\u2019s very apparent and very \u201cexterior\u201d if we commit a sin like adultery.\u00a0 Jesus says that the exterior\/apparent\/obvious sin is wrong for sure \u2013 but Jesus is equally as concerned with what\u2019s going on in the \u201cinterior\u201d \u2013\u00a0 inside our hearts.\u00a0 Jesus proposes that if we have looked at someone lustfully with our \u201cinterior\u201d, we have committed the same sin as if we had actually committed adultery on the \u201cexterior.\u201d\u00a0 Do you see how Jesus\u2019 teachings in today\u2019s readings are really focusing on the condition of our hearts?\u00a0 How is the condition of your heart today when it comes to these teachings?<\/span><\/p>\n I know these can be seen as \u201chard teachings.\u201d Please note that I do not believe that Jesus is advocating self-mutilation in these readings \u2013 he is being figurative, not literal, in his speech about gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand.\u00a0 (someone can be blind and still lust) But he wants the point to be made very strongly.\u00a0 These teachings are obviously important for us to meditate on and learn from and obey.\u00a0 I am sure we all know it is true that what we \u201cthink\u201d can often become what we \u201cdo\u201d.\u00a0 So, it seems to me that Jesus is trying to stop us from even committing sin at the \u201cthinking\u201d level, because it may later manifest itself into action.\u00a0 Or \u2013 even if it does not manifest itself into action the thinking of the sin can actually affect us just adversely as much as the actual doing of the sin.\u00a0 Let us not let our minds wander into cloudy territory, but let us keep our minds clean and focused on Jesus, His Kingdom, and His Righteousness. Jesus\u2019 teachings today in Matthew 5 can certainly keep us from cloudy thinking and the confusion of internal sin:<\/span><\/p>\n I do actually want to say a few more things about the whole adultery \/ lust issue brought up in today\u2019s readings.\u00a0 And it is this \u2013 probably many of us have struggled with lust, or are struggling with lust right now.\u00a0 I have.\u00a0 \u00a0And I know many of my friends who have.\u00a0 I am very saddened by many things I have seen and heard and experienced over the years.\u00a0 However sad I am or have been though, I am sure God grieves for us so much more.\u00a0 I guess I just want to encourage anyone now who is reading this that might be struggling with lust or pornography or adultery or pre-marital sex etc. \u2013 there truly is freedom from what you are struggling with.\u00a0 And that freedom ultimately only is found in the healing love of Jesus.\u00a0 I just pray that you will do everything you can to allow Jesus to free you from what\u2019s enslaved you \u2013 seek professional counseling, find an accountability partner, confess your sins, read empowering books about freedom from what you are struggling with, avoid R-rated movies or Hollywood entertainment magazines if you need to, avoid situations or locations that will tempt you, and above all pray to Jesus and ask for healing continually.\u00a0 He will heal you.\u00a0 It may take time.\u00a0 But Jesus will heal you.\u00a0 God bless you as you work your way out of this and into amazing freedom!\u00a0 God will get you there! Let the healing begin!<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew titled \u201cFlames of Desire\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, \u201cAvoiding the Sin of Adultery\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cJesus and the Law of Retaliation (Lex Talionis)\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Our Matthew Chapter 5 readings on lust seems an appropriate point to share with you this phenomenal song by Rebecca St. James that she wrote for her future husband called \u201cWait for Me:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
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\u201c\u201dYou\u2019re blessed when you\u2019re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. <\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you feel you\u2019ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. <\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you\u2019re content with just who you are\u2013no more, no less. That\u2019s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can\u2019t be bought. <\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you\u2019ve worked up a good appetite for God. He\u2019s food and drink in the best meal you\u2019ll ever eat. <\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you care. At the moment of being \u201ccarefull,\u2019 you find yourselves cared for. <\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you get your inside world\u2013your mind and heart\u2013put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.<\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That\u2019s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God\u2019s family.<\/em>
\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God\u2019s kingdom.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 Matthew 5:3-10 The Message<\/span><\/p>\n