Matthew 5
Sermon on the Mount verse 1- 2
And seeing the multitudes – HE went up into a mountain – and when HE was set
HIS disciples came unto HIM – and HE opened HIS mouth
and TAUGHT them – saying
Beatitudes verse 3- 10
Blessed are the poor in spirit – FOR theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are they that mourn – FOR they shall be comforted
Blessed are the meek – FOR they shall inherit the earth
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
FOR they shall be filled
Blessed are the merciful – FOR they shall obtain mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart – FOR they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers – FOR they shall be called the children of God
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake
FOR theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Persecution is a blessing verse 11- 12
Blessed are You – when men shall revile you – persecute you
and say all manner of evil against you falsely – for MY sake
REJOICE – and be EXCEEDING GLAD – for great is your reward in heaven
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
Believers are salt and light verse 13- 16
YOU are the SALT of the earth – but if the salt have lost his savor
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing
BUT to be cast out – and to be trodden under foot of men
YOU are the LIGHT of the world
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid
NEITHER do men light a candle – and put it under a bushel
BUT on a candlestick
and it gives light unto all that are in the house
LET your light so shine before men – that they may see your good works
and GLORIFY your Father which is in heaven
Jesus came to fulfill the Law verse 17- 19
Think not that I am come to destroy the LAW – or the PROPHETS
I am not come to destroy – BUT to fulfill
FOR verily I say unto you – Till heaven and earth pass
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law
till all be fulfilled
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments
and shall teach men so
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven
BUT whosoever shall do and teach them
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven
True righteousness defined verse 20
FOR I say unto you
That except your righteousness shall EXCEED the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees
You shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven
Anger defined verse 21- 22
You have heard that it was said by them of old time
YOU SHALL NOT KILL
and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment
BUT I say unto you
That whosoever is ANGRY with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment
AND whosoever shall say to his brother
Raca – shall be in danger of the council
BUT whosoever shall say – You fool
shall be in danger of hell fire
Reconciliation important verse 23- 24
THEREFORE if you bring your gift to the altar
and there remember that your brother has ought against you
LEAVE there your gift before the altar – and go your way
FIRST be reconciled to your brother
and THEN come and offer your gift
Settle differences verse 25- 26
AGREE with thine adversary quickly – whiles you are in the way with him
LEST at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge
AND the judge deliver you to the officer
AND you be cast into prison
VERILY I say unto you
You shall by no means come out thence
TILL you have paid the uttermost farthing
Dealing with lust verse 27- 30
YE have heard that it was said by them of old time –
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
BUT I say unto you
That whosoever looks on a woman
to lust after her has committed adultery
with her already in his heart
AND IF your right eye offend you – pluck it out
and cast it from you
FOR it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish
and not that your whole body should be cast into hell
AND IF your right hand offend you
cut it off – and cast it from you
FOR it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish
and not that your whole body should be cast into hell
Dealing with divorce verse 31- 32
It hath been said – Whosoever shall put away his wife
let him give her a writing of divorcement
BUT I say unto you
That whosoever shall put away his wife
SAVING for the cause of fornication
causes her to commit adultery
AND whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
commits adultery
Dealing with promises verse 33- 37
Again – YOU have heard that it hath been said by them of old time
YOU SHALL NOT FORSWEAR YOURSELF
BUT shall perform unto the Lord your oaths – BUT I say unto you
Swear not at all – NEITHER by heaven – for it is God’s throne
NOR by the earth – for it is HIS footstool
NEITHER by Jerusalem – for it is the city of the great King
NEITHER shalt thou swear by your head
BECAUSE you cannot make one hair white or black
BUT let you communication be Yea, yea – Nay nay
FOR whatsoever is more than these comes of evil
Dealing with revenge verse 38- 42
YOU have heard that it has been said
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
BUT I say unto you – That you resist not evil
BUT whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek
turn to him the other also
AND if any man will sue you at the law – and take away your coat
LET him have your cloak also
AND whosoever shall compel you to go a mile
GO with him twain
GIVE to him that asks you
AND from him that would
BORROW of you turn not you away
Love your enemies verse 43- 48
YOU have heard that it hath been said
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy
BUT I say unto you – LOVE your enemies – BLESS them that curse you
DO GOOD to them that hate you
and PRAY for them which despitefully use you – and persecute you
THAT YOU may be the children of your Father which is in heaven
FOR HE makes HIS sun to rise on the evil and on the good
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust
FOR IF you love them which love you – what reward have you?
Do not even the publicans the same?
AND IF you salute your brethren only – what do you more than others?
Do not even the publicans so?
BE you therefore PERFECT
EVEN AS your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be (filled. (5526 “filled” [chortazo] means be full, satisfied, fed, content, fattened, or supply food in abundance.)
DEVOTION: Amos (8:11, 12) taught the children of Israel that there was going to be a time when they would be seeking guidance from the LORD but there would be none. People would search high and low to find someone who could give them instruction from the LORD but none would be found. Why? Because they had lived in sin until the LORD gave them over to captivity. They didn’t want the LORD in good time so HE sent them bad times, so that, they would appreciate HIS blessings.
Jesus is teaching another generation of Israelites that they need to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness or right living. They were under Roman rule and were letting society tell them what was right and wrong rather than the Word of God. The Old Testament had given them the standard for living no matter what country they were in and no matter what society was teaching.
HE wanted them to really want to learn to live by the right standard. HE was instructing them from the beginning of HIS ministry until HE died and even after HIS resurrection. HE wanted them to be satisfied with what nourishment HE was giving them.
Today it is the same. The disciples wrote to give us instruction on how to live righteous lives. They wanted all those who attended their churches to know the truth of the Word of God. They gave them the standard the LORD had given to them. Their prayers were that each generation after them would train the people to live by God’s standard and not by the standard of society. It is a problem today that many churches and pastors are trying to be Politically correct rather than Biblically correct and are teaching their congregations the same by their example and preaching. They are going to answer to the LORD for their teachings. Many will stand before the LORD at the Great White Throne Judgment and be told that they are not in the book of life but on their way to hell for eternity.
Are you and I filling ourselves with the teachings of the Word of God that lead to righteous living? Are we full yet? The answer to the last question is always going to be NO because no one has arrived at full obedience to the LORD. Once we reach full obedience we would be in heaven. Our life here on earth is one of maturity after salvation. We are to grow in the LORD daily, monthly and yearly. Do those around us see a difference in us this year compared to last year or are we satisfied with where we are at and think the LORD is satisfied as well?
CHALLENGE: Don’t lie to yourself that the LORD is satisfied with you where you are at. HE wants us to continue to press toward the mark of the high calling HE has given us.)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 28 But I say to you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. (991 “looks” [blepo] means see, take heed, behold, to perceive with attention, see with mind’s eye or direct one’s gaze towards.)
DEVOTION: Today we find that the temptation to look at others on television or in the movies or in magazines can cause us to have unhealthy thoughts. This is not a new thing in this generation. Jesus instructed the people in his day that this could be a problem. Many women dressed to attract men even in HIS day. The disciples warned women on how to dress in church because there were those who didn’t dress the right way. They were causing men to look at them the wrong way. Many try to say that men shouldn’t even look but if a woman is dressed in an improper manner they will look. Dwelling on that look usually leads to lust which Jesus calls adultery of the heart. What can a man do today? He needs to look the other way as quick as he can. He needs to walk away. He needs to pray for the LORD to remove any improper thoughts from his mind. Is this just a male problem today? The answer is NO. Many women face the same issues with how men dress on the media they look at. They can’t dwell on pictures or images either. I have been told that young teen girls are looking at pictures that are improper on a regular basis more than young teen boys.
CHALLENGE: Our society is not concerned with keep a high moral standard but we should be in our viewing of material and thought life. God is not wrong in this warning because it can lead to real problems.
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: 33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself. But shall perform to the Lord you oaths. (1964 “forswear” [epiorkeo] means to swear falsely, to knowingly tell an untruth while swearing an oath, to break an oath previously sworn, to perjure oneself, or make false vows)
DEVOTION: Watch what you say to the LORD or to other people. Don’t give your word to the LORD or to others that you will do something and then not do it. Too often we say we are going to do something and then we forget or we just were saying it to please the person. We are not to be double minded individuals.
If we say we are going to do something we should be willing to follow up on our decision and do it. People need to be able to trust us to keep our word. God needs to be able to trust us that if we promise HIM something we are going to keep our word to HIM.
Too often when we are in trouble we will pray “Lord if you do this for me, I will….” We make a promise and then when the LORD delivers us out of that problem we forget our promise to HIM. It is better not to promise than to promise and then not keep our promise.
People in the Old Testament would vow to give something to the LORD and then not do it. Jesus is saying that this is wrong. HE gives a list of types of promises made in HIS day.
HE instructs us to let our yes be yes and our no to be no.
CHALLENGE: Try to remember this if someone asks us for something. Don’t lie. Don’t mislead. Tell them yes or no.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (5046 “perfect” [teleios] means bring to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, or mature.)
DEVOTION: Christ is giving instruction to HIS disciples. HE takes them to a mountain side and start giving them their first year of training. HE starts with the proper understanding of the Ten Commandments from God’s perspective. They had to remember these instructions because there was no paper to write them down until later in their ministries.
First HE wants the disciples to realize that they can be happy or blessed in any circumstance. Too often people only feel blessed when things are going their way. That is not what the LORD taught the disciples. There are those who are poor in spirit. There are those who mourn. There are those who have to be meek. They have to show mercy to others. They have to hunger and thirst for righteousness. They are going to be persecuted. This is not the prosperity gospel. This is a gospel of suffering for their stand in the LORD. The disciples are the salt and light to the world. The world likes darkness rather than light. Why? Because their deeds are EVIL.
True disciples have to rejoice in all circumstances. True disciples have to have a righteousness that EXCEEDS the legalism of the Pharisees. They were religious but not disciples. They taught the Ten Commandments from their perspective not God’s perspective. Christ taught what they meant in everyday life.
True disciples watched their anger. We have met many individuals who say they are followers of the LORD that have an anger problem that they don’t want to deal with on a regular basis. Reconciliation is what the LORD wants between two true disciples. Too often there is a separation that lasts a lifetime.
Next HE deals with adultery. This includes, in our day, pornography. We need to watch what our eyes look at.
HE deals with divorce. This is something that is out of control in Christian circles. There is only one reason given for divorce and some question this one. Remember the LORD wants HIS true disciples to reconcile. There might be reason to separate for a while but always with the intention of reconciliation. The LORD can give everyone victory over any sin in their life, if they allow HIM too. There is only one unpardonable sin in the Word of God and that is rejection of Jesus Christ.
Next HE deals with our communication. Some people who claim Christ use some colorful language. Some even use the LORD’S name in vain. This should not be happening in a disciple’s life. Our language should be one that is pleasing to the LORD at all times. I have heard husbands say things to their wife that turns the air blue. It is wrong.
Finally HE deals with possessions. How tight do we hold on to our possessions? The LORD wants us to be willing to let go of all that we own. Some have a hard time letting the LORD have ten percent of their income each paycheck but still want the LORD to bless them. It is not the arrangement the LORD has with HIS disciples.
Christ’s goal in HIS instructions to HIS disciples is for them to mature in their faith beyond that of the religious leaders of the day. The standard is the HOLINESS of God. God is the standard that we are to try to reach. We cannot get close without the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives. HE not only teaches us today but HE gives us strength to overcome temptations.
They needed to hear this as the religious leaders of the day thought they had God’s perspective on things. They did NOT! The LORD wanted HIS disciples to be trained properly, so that, they could train future followers of HIM properly. HE wanted them to be mature in the faith before HE left the world. HE did tell them that the Holy Spirit was going to instruct them more. HE was giving the basics to get them started. They weren’t able to learn it all at once. Neither are we able to learn it all at once. The LORD does want us to strive to maturity. The Father knows it all. We can learn enough to be called mature – if we are listening. Are we listening to the LORD?
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD to help you in an area where you struggle in one of the areas mentioned in this chapter.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altar verse 23, 24
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Prophets verse 12, 17
Law verse 17, 18
Commandments verse 19, 27, 28, 33
You shall not kill ( Ex. 20: 13)
You shall not commit adultery (Ex. 20: 14)
You shall not forswear yourself
You shall love your neighbor
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Theos) verse 8, 9, 34
Father verse 16, 45, 48
Lord verse 33
Control of sun verse 45
Perfect verse 45
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus (Iesouis) verse 1-
Taught verse 2
Blessed verse 3-
Fulfill the Law verse 17, 18
Great King verse 35
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Judge verse 25
Officer verse 25
Prison verse 25
Neighbor verse 43
Enemy verse 43
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Revile verse 11
Persecute believers verse 11, 12
Evil verse 11, 37, 39, 45
False witness verse 11
Break the commandments verse 19
False teachers verse 19
False righteousness verse 20
Kill verse 21
Angry with brother verse 22
Adultery verse 27, 28, 32
Lust of the heart verse 28
Writing of divorcement verse 31, 32
Fornication verse 32
False promising verse 34- 37
Sue verse 40
Curse verse 44
Hate verse 44
Despitefully use believers verse 44
Persecute believers verse 44
Unjust verse 45
Publicans verse 46, 47
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Disciple verse 1
Taught of the LORD verse 2
Blessed verse 3- 11
Poor in spirit verse 3
Mourn verse 4
Comfort verse 4
Meek verse 5
Inherit verse 5
Hunger and thirst after righteousness verse 6
Merciful verse 7
Pure in heart verse 8
Peacemakers verse 9
Children of God verse 9
Persecuted for righteousness verse 10- 12, 20
Reviled verse 11
Rejoice verse 12
Be exceeding glad verse 12
Reward in heaven verse 12
Prophets verse 12
Salt verse 13
Light verse 14- 16
Good works verse 16
Glorify Father verse 16
Do and teach the commandments verse 19
Righteousness exceed scribes & Pharisees verse 20
Give gifts to LORD verse 23- 24
Reconcile verse 24, 25
Agree with adversary verse 25
Perform your oaths verse 33
Proper communications verse 37
Resist not evil verse 39
Lend money to those who ask verse 42
Love your enemy verse 44
Bless them that curse you verse 44
Do good to those who hate you verse 44
Pray for those which despitefully use you verse 44
Pray for those who persecute you verse 44
Children of the Father verse 45
Do good verse 45
Just verse 45
Perfect verse 48
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Scribes verse 20
Pharisees verse 20
Jerusalem verse 35
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Heaven verse 10, 12, 16, 19, 20, 34, 45, 48
Kingdom of heaven verse 10, 19, 20
Reward in heaven verse 12
Judgment verse 21, 22
Hell fire verse 22, 29, 30
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QUOTES regarding passage
48 Some interpret this verse as the conclusion of the last antithesis (vv. 43–47; e.g., Allen, Hendriksen). In that case the perfection advocated is perfection in love. But “perfection” has far broader associations, and it is better to understand v. 48 as the conclusion to the antitheses.
The word teleios (“perfect”) usually reflects tâmīm (“perfect”) in the OT. It can refer to the soundness of sacrificial animals (Exod 12:5) or to thorough commitment to the Lord and therefore uprightness (Gen 6:9; Deut 18:13; 2 Sam 22:26). The Greek word can be rendered “mature” or “full-grown” (1 Cor 14:20; Eph 4:13; Heb 5:14; 6:1). Many judge its force to be nonmoral in Mt 5:48, which becomes an exhortation to total commitment to God (e.g., Bonnard; B. Rigaux, “Revelation des Mysteres et Perfection a Qumran et dans le Nouveau Testament,” NTS 4 [1957–58]: 237–62). But this makes for a fairly flat conclusion of the antitheses.
A better understanding of the verse does justice to the word teleios but also notes that the form of the verse is exactly like Leviticus 19:2, with “holy” displaced by “perfect,” possibly due to the influence of Deuteronomy 18:13 (where NIV renders teleios by “blameless”; cf. Gundry, Use of OT, pp. 73f.). Nowhere is God directly and absolutely called “perfect” in the OT: he is perfect in knowledge (Job 37:16) or in his way (Ps 18:30), and a man’s name may be “Yahweh is perfect” (so yōṯām [Jotham], Judg 9:5; 2 Kings 15:32). But here for the first time perfection is predicated of God (cf. L. Sabourin, “Why Is God Called ‘Perfect’ in Mt 5, 48?” Biblische Zeitschrift 24 [1980]: 266–68).
In the light of the preceding verses (vv. 17–47), Jesus is saying that the true direction in which the law has always pointed is not toward mere judicial restraints, concessions arising out of the hardness of men’s hearts, still less casuistical perversions, nor even to the law of love (contra C. Dietzfelbinger, “Die Antithesen der Berg predigt im Verständnis des Matthäus,” ZNW 70 [1979]: 1–15; cf. further on 22:34–35). No, it pointed rather to all the perfection of God, exemplified by the authoritative interpretation of the law bound up in the preceding antitheses. This perfection Jesus’ disciples must emulate if they are truly followers of him who fulfills the Law and the Prophets (v. 17).
The Qumran community understood perfection in terms of perfect obedience, as measured exclusively by the teachings of their community (1QS 1:8–9, 13; 2:1–2; 4:22–23; 8:9–10). Jesus has transposed this to a higher key, not by reducing the obedience, but by making the standard the perfect heavenly Father. Ronald A. Ward (Royal Theology [London: MMS, 1964], pp. 117–20) points out that in classical and Hellenistic usage teleios can have a static and a dynamic force, “the one appropriate to One Who does not develop, and the other suitable for men who can grow in grace” (p. 119, emphasis his): “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 160–161). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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43. Neighbor (τὸν πλησίον). Another word to which the Gospel has imparted a broader and deeper sense. Literally it means the one near (so the Eng., neighbor = nigh-bor), indicating a mere outward nearness, proximity. Thus a neighbor might be an enemy. Socrates (Plato, “Republic,” ii., 373) shows how two adjoining states might come to want each a piece of its neighbor’s (τῶν πλησίον) land, so that there would arise war between them; and again (Plato, “Theaetetus,” 174) he says that a philosopher is wholly unacquainted with his next-door neighbor, and does not know whether he is a man or an animal. The Old Testament expands the meaning to cover national or tribal fellowship, and that is the sense in our Lord’s quotation here. The Christian sense is expounded by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29 sqq.), as including the whole brotherhood of man, and as founded in love for man, as man, everywhere. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 42). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
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Jesus concluded this section by saying, Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. His message demonstrated God’s righteous standard, for God Himself truly is the “standard” of righteousness. If these individuals are to be righteous, they must be as God is, “perfect,” that is, mature (teleioi) or holy. Murder, lust, hate, deception, and retaliation obviously do not characterize God. He did not lower His standard to accommodate humans; instead He set forth His absolute holiness as the standard. Though this standard can never be perfectly met by man himself, a person who by faith trusts in God enjoys His righteousness being reproduced in his life. (Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Retaliation (vv. 38–48).
The law of Moses (Lev. 24:19–23) prevented offended people from taking the law into their own hands and seeking private revenge against an enemy. It also kept magistrates from issuing exorbitant sentences that did not fit the offenses. But Jesus asks His people to suffer rather than cause others to suffer (1 Cor. 6:1–8). Keep in mind that this has to do with private offenses; the courts must still deal with people who break the law and must be punished accordingly. Christians may sacrifice and suffer as the Lord leads them, but they have no right to ask others to join them. Verse 42 does not command us to give to everybody who asks whatever they desire, for in so doing we might do them harm. We must give them what they need the most and not what they want the most.
Leviticus 19:17–18 deals with the treatment of enemies, and see Ex. 23:4–5. Nowhere does the law command people to hate their enemies. Jesus advised us to pray for them and do them good, just as the Father does to us. If we treat our enemies as they treat us, we are stooping to their low level. Nor should we be satisfied to do what the average Christian does. “What do you more than others?” We must go higher and imitate the Heavenly Father. The word “perfect” in v. 48 points the way to maturity of character, the kind of qualities described in 2 Peter 1 and Gal. 5:22–23. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 31). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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5:48 you are to be perfect. Christ sets an unattainable standard. This sums up what the law itself demanded (Jas 2:10). Though this standard is impossible to meet, God could not lower it without compromising His own perfection. He who is perfect could not set an imperfect standard of righteousness. The marvelous truth of the gospel is that Christ has met this standard on our behalf (see note on 2Co 5:21). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mt 5:48). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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“Perfect, even as your Father … is perfect.” This is perfection in the sense of the complete absence of partiality, thus imitating Him who is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), but who lavishes His favors upon just and unjust alike.
God’s choicest blessings are for those who manifest the same spirit of reverence for Him, and meekness and compassion for others, which were seen in all their fulness in our blessed Lord, as He walked this earth in the days of His flesh (Heb. 5:7). Thus, and thus only, that which is beyond the reach of the natural man is fulfilled in those who have received a new life and nature through trusting in Christ as their Saviour. No adverse circumstances can disturb the serenity of those who know the Lord and who acknowledge His authority over their lives. (Ironside, H. A. (1948). Expository notes on the Gospel of Matthew. (p. 57). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, as your father, &c.] This perfection is to be restrained to the subject Christ is upon, love to men, and not to be referred to any, or every other thing; wherefore, in Luke 6:36. ’tis, be ye merciful, as your father also is merciful; and regards not a perfection of degree in that, but objects and quality: that is to say, not that men may, or can, or ought to be as perfect in love, as to the degree of it, as God is; that is impossible: the as here, is not a note of equality, but of likeness: such, who profess God to be their father, ought to imitate him, particularly in their love to men, which ought to be extended to the same objects, as the divine goodness is; that, as he shews regard in a providential way to all men, good and bad, just and unjust, and his tender mercies are over all his works; so ought they to love all men with a natural affection, and hate no man, no, not their enemies: for he that loves only his friends, and not his enemies, loves imperfectly; he does not take in the whole compass of objects his love is to extend unto; and as God loves sincerely, and without dissimulation, so should they. To be perfect, is to be sincere and upright: in this sense is the word often used, and answers to the Hebrew word תמיﬦ, which signifies the same: see Deut. 18:13 which is the passage Christ seems to refer to here; and the sense is, be ye sincere and upright in your love to all men, as your heavenly father is hearty and sincere in his affections to them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 54). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Acts 26
Paul is given an audience with King Agrippa.
INSIGHT To repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, or to think opposite thoughts. If you have not received Christ, you must repent to do so. In his defense before King Agrippa and Festus, Paul says he preaches to everyone that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (v. 20). One cannot repent without changing. Repentance toward Christ brings new birth and the power to change. Have you repented and turned to God? (Quiet Walk)
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The Name That Charms Us
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
The second verse of the sweet hymn “Praise the Savior, Ye Who Know Him” continues with reasons to praise Him.
Jesus is the Name that charms us,
He for conflicts fits and arms us;
Nothing moves and nothing harms us
When we trust in Him.
We are informed in Scripture that He assigns great value and power to His Name. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9-10).
He protects and empowers us to do great things in service to Him. “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Psalm 91:4).
In His service and following His lead, we are victorious. “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory” (Psalm 98:1). “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
He is not only the conquering general, He is the Creator as well. We put our trust in Him, for where could our trust be better placed? “Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:11). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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FULL AND LASTING JOY
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
The apostle is anxious that these Christian people, to whom he is writing, should have fullness of joy, though they are in the world, which lies under the power of the evil one.
Now that is the amazing thing that is offered and promised to us in the New Testament. It is by no means a message confined to this epistle. We see it in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (4:4). Our Lord promised in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He described the world as an evil place, and He forewarned His followers what to expect from it. He said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you”; but His great promise was that He would give them the joy that He Himself possessed. There would be a period at the crucifixion and before the resurrection when they would be unhappy and miserable. “But,” He said, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). He also said, “These things have I spoken unto you…that your joy might be full” (John 15:11) “the very word that John repeats in his first epistle.
That is Christ’s promise, and perhaps there is nothing that is more characteristic of the book of the Acts of the Apostles than this very note. If you are feeling tired and in need of a spiritual tonic, go to the book of Acts, and there you will find this irrepressible joy that these people had in confirmation of the Lord’s promise!
A Thought to Ponder: Christ described the world as an evil place, but His great promise was that He would give them joy. (From Fellowship with God pp. 23-24. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 4:4-8
My Father was a hard-working man who was employed by two different companies most of my early life. He would get up in the morning and work in a feed mill until noon. Then he would come to prepare for his second job as caretaker in a mental health hospital from 3-11 pm. Besides these two full time jobs, he had a small farm that he and our family took care of to supply fresh milk, meat and vegetables for the family.
I was often amazed at how much my father could accomplish in a days’ time. All the hours and time he spent working was impressive to me. I find Solomon’s statement to be true regarding toil and skillful work as being envied by others (v. 4). As I grew older, I also saw that my father missed out on some important aspects of parenting and raising of his children. The need and desire to have material matters caused the relational side of fatherhood to be weakened and as Solomon states, man can become a loner and isolated from other people. The need for toil and labor was such that it consumed most the waking portion of his life.
Helen Keller stated, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Working long days or being the king, both led to isolation and lack of companionship. This misfortune was seen and still attributes to what Solomon said was dissatisfaction and loneliness (v. 8).
Christ has made the promise to love us and never to forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His work is never so great that He does not have time to hear us and to respond to the requests we bring to him. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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