83rd Week Matthew Chapter 5 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Studying the Sermon on the Mount

Monday, Matthew 5:1-11

Matthews 5A

The Beatitudes

Jane Jones

The Beatitudes

I think the Message Bible words the Beatitudes so understandable that I wish to include that translation for you tonight.

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are--no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

You’re blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’ Kingdom.

Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort, and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even!--for though they don’t like it, I DO! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

There are at least four ways to understand the beatitudes.

1) They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct for all believers.

2) They contrast kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). 

3) They contrast the superficial ‘faith’ of the Pharisees with the real faith Christ wants.

4) They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom.

These beatitudes are not multiple choice--pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe what we should be like as Christ’s followers. If our goal is to become like Him, the Beatitudes will challenge the way we live each day.

PRAYER

We pray that each and every Salt Shaker will have a good weekend. We pray that You will meet them where they are at this moment and comfort them for

a good night sleep.  Thank You so much for your teaching of the Beatitudes. We thank You for the instructions to be Christ-like. May the Salt Shakers walk into the world tomorrow witnessing the Beatitudes. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Tuesday, Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5B

Verse 16

Bart Strayer

Verse 16:  “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

THOUGHT

0k, now this is where things get a little confusing for me. We all know that we are to be salt and light right?  I mean, that is the name of our little group.  But, what does this mean?  I would like to focus on what your ‘light’ looks like.  The verse says that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  

And yet, in Chapter 6 Jesus tells us, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.  So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you.”

Let’s not get confused here. It sounds like Jesus is saying two different things, but He is not.  I found my answer in Eugene Peterson’s ‘The Message’. He paraphrases it perfectly in verse 1 of Chapter 6.

“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it.  It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.  When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself.  You’ve seen them in action.  I call them actors who treat prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds.”

Shakers, let’s be genuine in our love, not drawing attention to ourselves.  Goodness revealed inadvertently is much more powerful than a trumpet call.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, let Your light shine through us so that we may let Your light shine onto this world. Help us treat our light with the humility and honor that it deserves.  We pray that people would see the genuineness of our hearts and not just an act.  Help us turn our hearts ever closer to You.  In Your Name We Pray. AMEN

Wednesday, Matthew 5:17-32

Matthew 5C

Verse 22

Bart Strayer

Verse 22:  “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”

THOUGHT

When we start down the road of sin, how far down the road do you plan on going before you turn around?  As we read in the next few verses, we see that Jesus teaches us that breaking one of the Ten Commandments is indeed sin.  However, actions that lead up to the committed sin are also sinful.

If I challenged you to think of and understand the most complicated entity in the universe (excluding God), some responses may be, infinite space,  time, . . etc.  I think the most complex item out there is the human personality.  I mean we are all different, making no personality standard.  Yet, when I read Jesus speaking in these verses, I hear a God that understands even the most complex personality. He knows that committing murder or adultery is not where sin begins; it’s where it ends. It began long before the act of murder or adultery. It began with thoughts and feelings of hatred and lust. He knows we shouldn’t even start down the road that leads to sin.

Matt, wasn’t it Mom that always said, “Ya gotta nip it in the bud, nip it in the bud, nip it in the bud.”  It wasn’t until I lived in the city a few years that I realized what great Iowa slang this is. I mean, to a city

person it sounds like someone is trying to cut off the beer supply.

(I just added that at no extra charge)

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, give us the strength to defeat the sin in our lives. Probe our lives and send up warning flags when we start down the road to sin.  Give us the strength to turn around.  In Your Name We Pray. AMEN

Thursday, Matthew 5:33-37

Matthew 5D

Verses 33-37

Bart Strayer

Verses 33—37: (The Message) “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions.  You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when you manipulate words to get your own way so you won’t go wrong.”

Jesus is touching on the fact that we must carry ourselves in a respectable manner. It is hard for us to be salt and light when we cannot be creditable. It negatively affects the perception that people have of us.  Being untruthful or not keeping our word is a setback in our relationships with unbelievers.  Being known as a person of Your Word adds to our usefulness in the world of evangelizing.  Can I encourage all of us to think carefully about our words before we say them?  Let’s begin our spoken thoughts with the end in mind so our words may not come back to haunt us.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, we can’t be perfect in our speech, therefore we need Your help in making our words useful.  Help us speak with the wisdom and love that only You can provide.  We are at times at a loss for useful things to say.  Guild us in those moments to words or to silence that is needed to shine

Your light the brightest. We love You today. AMEN

Friday, Matthew 5:38-48

Matthew 5E

Verse 44

Bart Strayer

Verse 44: “But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

THOUGHT

Man, it is so easy to become angry with those that wrong us.  Anger can become a knee jerk reaction to persecution.  In flighty moments of wisdom I remember the ALL—encompassing usefulness of prayer.  I think we all realize that prayer offers us a hope when we are hopeless.  But prayer for those that wrong us, what for? 

Many problems that we have in our walk with Christ lie in our hearts. Sometimes I think that if I pray for my enemies, that will make their lives better, and I don’t want their lives better.  I want wrong to come to them. Terrible I know.  Once again I have sold our God short.  Prayer for our enemies can bring about many unforeseen circumstances, one of which could be conviction.  In the anger of the moment, this is the last thing we may consider.  Once again, Jesus tells us to do this. You may understand why or you may not. 

Like many verses in the Bible I remind myself that I just need to shut my mouth and do what my Master says. Maybe on a day 500 years from now I will understand why.

PRAYER 

Dear Lord, soften our hearts to our enemies. Help us in those times of persecution to remember You and the cross.  Flood our hearts with Your love so that we may find love for those that wrong us. In Jesus Name. AMEN