59 – Jesus Confirms His Purpose to John the Baptist; Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35

Matthew 11:2 Now when John, [a]while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the [b]Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the [c]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he [d]who does not [e]take offense at Me.”

7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 [f]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [g]palaces! 9 [h]But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it [i]is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger [j]ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is [k]least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven [l]suffers violence, and violent men [m]take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who [n]was to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, [o]let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not [p]mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [q]drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and [r]sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Luke 7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning [a]two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the [b]Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the [c]Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that [d]very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 Blessed is he [e]who does not take offense at Me.”

24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 [f]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft [g]clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger [h]ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is [i]least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they [j]acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the [k]lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by [l]John.

31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [m]drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and [n]sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 11:2 Lit in prison

b. Matthew 11:3 Lit Coming One

c. Matthew 11:5 Or good news

d. Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever

e. Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me

f. Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,

g. Matthew 11:8 Lit houses

h. Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,

I. Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written

j. Matthew 11:10 Lit before your face

k. Matthew 11:11 Or less

l. Matthew 11:12 Or is forcibly entered

m. Matthew 11:12 Or seize it for themselves

n. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come

o. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!

p. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast

q. Matthew 11:19 Or wine-drinker

r. Matthew 11:19 I.e. irreligious Jews

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 7:19 Lit a certain two

b. Luke 7:19 Lit Coming One

c. Luke 7:20 Lit Coming One

d. Luke 7:21 Lit hour

e. Luke 7:23 Lit whoever

f. Luke 7:25 Or Well then, what

g. Luke 7:25 Or garments

h. Luke 7:27 Lit before Your face

I. Luke 7:28 Or less

j. Luke 7:29 Or justified God

k. Luke 7:30 I.e. experts in the Mosaic Law

l. Luke 7:30 Lit him

m. Luke 7:34 Or wine-drinker

n. Luke 7:34 I.e. irreligious Jews

Commentary

At the time John’s disciples arrive, Jesus is healing and teaching. The works Jesus performed were largely focused on an “underclass” of people who did not have means to provide for themselves – the disabled, the widowed, the mentally or emotionally unwell, and outcasts of all kinds. He provided for their physical needs, as well as taught them principles to facilitate their spiritual understanding, and this is a major characteristic of His ministry that seekers and skeptics look to see imitated by those who claim to follow Him (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1790). In that vein, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to early Christians, who sold their property in order to provide for the needy among them, or the rich young ruler, to whom Jesus offered access into the kingdom of Heaven by giving all he owned to the poor. I see so many people hurting today, and I’m tempted to pray for them and move on. However, the Bible warns of the hypocrisy of saying to the destitute, “be warm and well-fed,” while not providing the means for them to do so. Would I sell my possessions and my property to provide for others, or am I like the wealthy people Jesus observed at the temple (comparing them to the poor woman giving all she had) who gave only out of their excess? This is a sort of sidebar to the topic at hand, but I thought I would share some of the things I wrestled with as I read this passage.

For a great example of austere living and humble faith, look no further than John the Baptist. In this passage, he had been imprisoned by Herod Antipas and was closing a life of self-denial in morbid persecution. John’s imprisonment was mentioned earlier in the book of Matthew (4:12), but the reason for his imprisonment is not revealed until later in Matthew’s record (14:3-12). We studied the details of his offense and imprisonment in a previous study, but for the purpose of this study, we’ll focus on the fact that, as so many prophets before him, he was despised by the ruler for speaking God’s will.

If John was so in tune with God’s plan, why did John ask Jesus whether He was really the Messiah? It is possible he was wondering why Jesus had left him in prison, and he may also have been questioning why it was taking Jesus so long to demonstrate His power. As we have discussed previously, the Jewish people believed that the Messiah would be their political ruler and would liberate them from their political oppressors. This speaks to Jesus’s final statement to John’s messengers, “Blessed is he who does not take offense at me.” Elliott’s Commentary for English Readers explains that statement this way: “The words at once confirm the view that the question which the messengers had brought came from the Baptist himself, and show how tenderly our Lord dealt with the impatience which it implied. A warning was needed, but it was given in the form of a beatitude which it was still open to him to claim and make his own. Not to find a stumbling-block in the manner in which the Christ had actually come, that was the condition of entering fully into the blessedness of His kingdom” (https://biblehub.com/matthew/11-6.htm).

While Jesus spoke to John’s question with forgiveness in His heart, He also sought to justify Himself through the other proofs he listed. Those proofs should have been exactly the things John would look for to identify the Messiah, since he would have been intimately familiar with the law and prophets, and the same goes for the rest of the audience, to whom he addressed his other proofs.

• The blind receive sight – Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 61:1
• The deaf hear – Isaiah 29:18
• Preaching the gospel to the poor – Isaiah 29:19; 61:1-2
• Someone was sent ahead of Him – Malachi 3:1
• The return of Elijah – Malachi 4:5-6

Jesus says the least in the kingdom is greater than John, which I initially passed off as one of the types of things Jesus commonly said to elevate the poor and disadvantaged. However, there is an eschatological reason for the statement. “John was recognized as the foreordained forerunner of the Saviour and, technically, the last Old Testament prophet. Thus, he belonged to the Old Testament dispensation. This certainly emphasizes the clear distinction between the Old Testament era (i.e. before the resurrection) and the New Testament era (after the resurrection). The weakest believer who had the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the risen Christ is, therefore, in a more privileged position than the greatest of the Old Testament prophets” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1196). However, Jesus wraps up His defense of John as a prophet by saying (in Matthew 11:13) that, while all other prophets had spoken of a future not yet realized, John witnessed and recognized that which had been foretold. Therefore, while all other prophets had prophesied about the future, John had no need to do so because his job was to illuminate the arrival of that future.

The context of the children in the street metaphor was a little difficult for me to understand, but “some have likened the illustration of Christ to that of children playing a game of “weddings” and then a game of “funerals.” The idea is that the children cannot decide which game to play; therefore, they decide to play nothing at all” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1196). Jesus’s point is that the people’s juvenile and ignorant petulance was evidenced in their easy excuses for not believing in either John or Jesus. However, when Jesus says “wisdom is vindicated,” he implies the results of both approaches speak for themselves.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/05/29/woes-for-failure-to-repent/

Scripture References

Matthew 11:2

Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.

Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

Luke 9:7 When Herod the Tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,

Matthew 11:3

Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

John 11:27 “Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Hebrews 10:37 For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

Matthew 11:4

John 5:36 But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works I am doing–testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.

Matthew 11:5

Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, sighted or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Isaiah 29:18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

Isaiah 29:19 The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners,

Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 12:13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

John 9:7 Then He told him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

Matthew 11:6

Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matthew 13:21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.

Luke 7:23 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

John 6:61 Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

John 16:1 I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.

Matthew 11:7

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.

Matthew 11:8

Deuteronomy 28:54 The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived,

Matthew 3:4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 11:9

Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways,

Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

Matthew 11:10

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple–the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight–see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”

Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways,

Matthew 11:11

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Matthew 5:19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 11:12

Matthew 3:15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Matthew 11:14

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple–the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight–see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the LORD.

Matthew 17:10 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Mark 9:11 And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John 1:21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Matthew 11:15

Matthew 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop–a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 13:9 He who has an ear, let him hear:

Matthew 11:16

Matthew 23:7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

Mark 12:38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,

Luke 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Matthew 11:17

Genesis 50:10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.

Luke 8:52 Meanwhile everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”

Luke 23:27 A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

Matthew 11:18

Matthew 3:4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”

Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

Luke 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

John 7:20 “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”

John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

John 8:52 “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.

John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

Matthew 11:19

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

Matthew 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 5:29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

Luke 15:2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 7:18

Matthew 14:12 Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

Luke 7:19

Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”

Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

Luke 11:1 One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:39 “Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

Luke 13:15 “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied, “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Luke 17:6 And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

Luke 24:34 and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

John 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

John 6:23 However, some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

John 11:2 (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, would later anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)

Luke 7:20

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Luke 7:21

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.

Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

Luke 7:22

Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners,

Luke 7:25

Luke 16:19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.

Luke 7:27

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple–the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight–see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”

Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways,

Luke 7:28

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Luke 7:29

Matthew 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

Acts 18:25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Acts 19:3 “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.

Luke 7:30

Proverbs 1:25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

Matthew 22:35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question:

Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

Luke 7:31

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Luke 7:32

Matthew 20:3 About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

Luke 7:33

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Luke 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 7:34

Matthew 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

Luke 7:35

Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Commentary

Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

58 – Raising a Widow’s Son, Luke 7:11-17

Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, [a]accompanied by a large crowd. 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, [b]a dead man was being carried out, the [c]only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “[d]Do not weep.” 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15 The [e]dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has [f]visited His people!” 17 This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

Footnotes

a. Luke 7:11 Lit and

b. Luke 7:12 Lit one who had died

c. Luke 7:12 Or only begotten

d. Luke 7:13 Or Stop weeping

e. Luke 7:15 Or corpse

f. Luke 7:16 Or cared for

Commentary

Nain was a town in southwest Galilee, and the name means “pleasant” or “delightful.” The people had a lovely view of the Plain of Esdraelon, and there was a spring which helped them grow groves of olives and figs. Although it is now a small village, it was likely much larger at the time Jesus passed through (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1789).

This event that takes place in Nain is the first of three recorded times when Jesus raises someone from the dead, and before this instance, it had been about 800 years since God’s people had seen someone raised from the dead. “The last case was wrought by Elisha the prophet (II Kgs 4:14-37)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1274). Luke’s inclusion of this case is consistent with his focus on Jesus’s treatment of and compassion for women.

This mercy Jesus extended to the widow must have been keenly felt by onlookers. Widows had a hard lot in Biblical times, particularly if they had no children to care for them. Their basic needs were provided by the church if they had no means, but they were often destitute. For this woman to lose her only son was not only grievous to her heart, but also to her future.

The footnote for letter ‘c’, offering an alternative translation of “only begotten,” recalled John 3:16 for me and made me realize the similarity of this woman to Jesus’s own mother. Jesus died and was risen at a time when Joseph had already passed away and Mary was a widow. Although Jesus had at least one brother in James, He commended Mary’s care to John, as if Mary had no family to care for her. (This is purely my own conjecture, but since James did not believe in Jesus’s messiahship until after Jesus’s death, James may have distanced himself from his family members who accepted Jesus as Lord. Therefore, he may have been an unlikely candidate to care for Mary properly at the time of Jesus’s death.) Jesus, ever focused on His mission, could have seen His mother in this poor woman and felt His own mother’s future grief in the widow’s tears. No wonder He was moved to a special compassion for her!

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/05/15/jesus-confirms-his-purpose-to-john-the-baptist/

Scripture References

Verse 11

Luke 7:10 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

Verse 13

Luke 7:19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

Luke 11:1 One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:39 “Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

Luke 13:15 “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied, “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Luke 17:6 And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

Luke 24:3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:34 and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

John 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

John 6:23 However, some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

John 11:2 (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, would later anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)

John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

Verse 14

1 Kings 17:22 And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.

Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

Verse 16

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 21:11 The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Luke 5:26 Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him–for she is a sinner!”

John 4:19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I see that You are a prophet.

Verse 17

Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

Matthew 9:26 And the news about this spread throughout that region.

Matthew 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.

Commentary

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

57 – A Centurion’s Faith; Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

Matthew 8:5 And when [a]Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6 and saying, “[b]Lord, my [c]servant is [d]lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7 Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “[e]Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just [f]say the word, and my [g]servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith [h]with anyone in Israel. 11 I say to you that many will come from east and west, and [i]recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; [j]it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the [k]servant was healed that very [l]moment.

Luke 7:1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2 And a centurion’s slave, [a]who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some [b]Jewish elders asking Him to come and [c]save the life of his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; 5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” 6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “[d]Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; 7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just [e]say the word, and my [f]servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 8:5 Lit He

b. Matthew 8:6 Or Sir

c. Matthew 8:6 Lit boy

d. Matthew 8:6 Lit thrown down

e. Matthew 8:8 Or Sir

f. Matthew 8:8 Lit say with a word

g. Matthew 8:8 Lit boy

h. Matthew 8:10 One early ms reads not even in Israel

i. Matthew 8:11 Or dine

k. Matthew 8:13 Or let it be done; i.e. a command

l. Matthew 8:13 Lit boy

m. Matthew 8:13 Lit hour

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 7:2 Lit to whom he was honorable

b. Luke 7:3 Lit elders of the Jews

c. Luke 7:3 Lit bring safely through, rescue

d. Luke 7:6 Or Sir

e. Luke 7:7 Lit say with a word

f. Luke 7:7 Or boy

Commentary

Capernaum means “village of Nahum” (a reference, possibly, to the prophet Nahum from the Old Testament). Jesus spent so much time in Capernaum throughout His ministry that Matthew called it His own city (Matthew 9:1). This has added significance when coupled with Matthew 4:15-16, where Matthew quotes Isaiah, putting Capernaum into ancient prophecy about where Jesus would teach. Since Jesus did not own land or a house, He likely stayed with one of His disciples or their families who lived there (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1274). As we know from other passages, Peter and Andrew lived there because Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law.

The Jewish elders who were sent to Jesus would have been part of the governing body for the Hebrews in Capernaum. They would have had considerable influence among the Jews, and they shared with Jesus that a Centurion who needed His help had helped build the very synagogue where Jesus had spent time teaching. In fact, synagogue ruins were recently discovered on the site that is believed to be Capernaum, and though historians debate about whether the ruins are from the first or second century, if they were from the first century, we have seen the actual site being referred to in this conversation between the elders and Jesus. The ruins, like all synagogues of the day, have an inscription forbidding gentiles from entering. Ironically, this law would have prevented the Centurion from entering, even though he had sponsored the building. Similarly to the way Gentiles were not allowed in synagogues, Jews also considered themselves to be defiled by entering the home of a Gentile. The Centurion understood this, which may be part of the reason he did not ask Jesus to enter his home.

A centurion was a Roman soldier in charge of at least 100 men (hence the root “cent”). “A centurion was a rank between that of an officer and a noncommissioned officer (somewhat equivalent to that of a modern sergeant-major). It was a position of great responsibility in the Roman occupation force” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1191). Centurions at the time were being picked from among the ranks and were voted into their position by the very men who would report to them. Commonly, perhaps because of their election by popular vote, centurions were men of uncommon intelligence, valor, and ethics. It is interesting to note that there “are approximately ten centurions mentioned in the New Testament, and each is presented in a good light. This centurion had numerous noble qualities” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1274). His love for the Jews and his assistance in building the synagogue in Capernaum gave him a position of importance and influence among the Jewish community there. Although in his position, he could have ordered Jesus to perform healing, or offered payment, he humbly entreated Him, instead, recognizing and mirroring the nature of Jesus (The Word in Life Study Bible 1639).

The two accounts seem to differ on the interaction between Jesus and the centurion: whether it took place in person or through the centurion’s agent. KJV Bible Commentary says the word “said” in Matthew 8:8 implies this response was delivered via the centurion’s messenger, so this brings the story into alignment with the account in Luke. Another theory is laid out in the sermon here, from which I also drew several of the other facts I referenced in this article https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATCuXBKGDuo.

After the Centurion’s expression of faith and understanding, Jesus takes the opportunity to emphasize the contrast between the Jews, who had been taught Messianic prophecies for centuries, and a Gentile whose faith outshone theirs. This should and would have been a great shame to the Jews, and Jesus condemns them to eternal separation from God if they do not come to truly believe. This assault would have been very obvious to the Jews present because they took great personal pride in their faith and righteousness, as compared with Gentiles. For Jesus to elevate a Gentile’s faith over theirs would have been an outrage (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1789).

In Matthew 8:11, “The words from the east and west, are taken from Psalm 107 (with allusions also to Isa 49:12; 59:19; Mal 1:11). Here Christ is referring to the gathering in of the Gentiles through the preaching of the gospel, culminating in their final gathering at the time of His second coming” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1191).

However, the centurion wasn’t just any Gentile; he was a Roman soldier. As we have discussed in previous passages, Roman soldiers were mean and violent toward the Jews. John the Baptist instructed soldiers to stop being violent, as their form of repentance. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells His audience to accept Roman persecution by going the extra mile and turning the other cheek. The Roman soldiers were clearly enemies of the Jews, and marveling at a Roman’s faith was really a shocking for Jesus to have done.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/05/08/raising-a-widows-son/

Scripture References

Matthew 8:5

Acts 9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

Matthew 8:6

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them.

Matthew 8:8

Psalm 107:20 He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit.

Matthew 8:9

Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

Luke 9:1 Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases.

Matthew 8:10

Genesis 43:33 They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at each other in astonishment.

Acts 2:7 Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

Matthew 8:11

Isaiah 49:12 Behold, they will come from far away, from the north and from the west, and from the land of Aswan.”

Isaiah 59:19 So will they fear the name of the LORD from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun; for He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.

Malachi 1:11 “For My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 21:41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they declared, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

Luke 13:29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

Matthew 8:12

1 Samuel 2:9 He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

Psalm 112:10 The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

Isaiah 65:14 My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Matthew 13:42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 24:51 Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Matthew 8:13

Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”

John 4:50 “Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at His word and departed.

Luke 7:1

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

Luke 6:49 But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell–and great was its destruction.”

Luke 7:4

Acts 10:2 He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

Luke 7:9

Luke 7:50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Commentary

Matthew 4:15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.”

 

56 – Sermon on the Mount Part 7; Matthew 7:28-8:1

Matthew 7:28 [a]When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

8:1 When [b]Jesus came down from the mountain, [c]large crowds followed Him.

Footnotes

a. Matthew 7:28 Lit And it happened when

b. Matthew 8:1 Lit He

c. Matthew 8:1 Lit many

Commentary

Since this section is so short, it seems appropriate to take a look at the person of Jesus in some further detail. The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua”, which means “salvation of Yahweh” (see Matthew 1:21). Because Jesus was a common name at the time of Jesus’s birth, the gospels often refer to Him as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ.

As I mentioned in the last study of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expressed Himself and His teaching in ways that were common in Greek thought at the time. This may due, in part, to the fact that the Jews were under Roman rule and that many of the cities of the Decapolis and surrounding areas had become Hellenic in culture, embracing the Greek language and philosophy. While Jesus spoke in Aramaic (the language of the common man, to whom He addressed most of His teaching), He certainly would have been exposed to Greek language and thought and was very possibly bilingual.

Regarding the study passage for this week, the Sermon on the Mount was spoken to an audience who is presumed to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. “[Jesus] is the personal embodiment of all His teachings. Thus, when He had finished the discourse, the people were astonished. Lenski (p. 314) notes that as Jesus spoke, crowds were in rapt attention, but when He ceased, attention relaxed and shocking amazement engulfed them” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1190).

Also recorded in the scripture selection from this week is a comparison of Jesus to the scribes. “The scribes were the copyists of the law and the theologians of their day. The scribes had to rely on tradition for their authority, whereas Christ was His own authority. This undoubtedly disturbed the Pharisees for He had no approval as an official teacher in their system. Rather than quoting the opinion of tradition, Jesus spoke as if He personally knew what He was talking about” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1190). Most of the scribes belonged to the Pharisaic party themselves, and this may have ironically created the opportunity for Jesus to teach in the first place because Pharisees tended to err “on the side of leniency for fear of unwittingly opposing truth. Gamaliel’s advice of caution (Acts 5:38f.) is typical of this approach. When the Sadducean Caiaphas was considering the threat of Jesus to the Jewish hierarchy, he displayed a devotion to political expediency which no Pharisee would have expressed so unequivocally (John 11:48)” (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 3 pg. 504).

Part of the Pharisees’ objection to Jesus’s teaching was His authoritative delivery and assertion of absolute truth, but it’s the very authority with which He speaks that makes the message all the more sobering. If we don’t follow His teaching and believe in Him, there are grave consequences.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/04/24/a-centurions-faith/

Scripture Reference

Verse 7:28

Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in the nearby towns.

Matthew 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.

Matthew 13:54 Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

Matthew 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Matthew 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,

Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

Mark 11:18 When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

Luke 2:47 And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

Luke 4:32 They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

Luke 7:1 When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

John 7:46 “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.

Commentary

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Acts 5:38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

John 11:48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

 

55 – Sermon on the Mount Part 6; Matthew 7:7-27, Luke 6:31, 43-49

Matthew 7:7 “[a]Ask, and it will be given to you; [b]seek, and you will find; [c]knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you [d]who, when his son asks for a loaf, [e]will give him a stone? 10 Or [f]if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

12 “In everything, therefore, [g]treat people the same way you want [h]them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will [i]know them by their fruits. [j]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [k]know them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [l]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [m]acts on them, [n]may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the [o]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not [p]act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the [q]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Luke 6:31 [a]Treat others the same way you want [b]them to treat you.

43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, [c]on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 The good man out of the good [d]treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from [e]that which fills his heart.

46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and [f]acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who [g]dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the [h]torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the [i]torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 7:7 Or Keep asking

b. Matthew 7:7 Or keep seeking

c. Matthew 7:7 Or keep knocking

d. Matthew 7:9 Lit whom his son will ask

e. Matthew 7:9 Lit he will not give him a stone, will he?

f. Matthew 7:10 Lit also will ask

g. Matthew 7:12 Lit you, too, do so for them

h. Matthew 7:12 Lit people; Gr anthropoi

I. Matthew 7:16 Or recognize

j. Matthew 7:16 Lit They do not gather

k. Matthew 7:20 Or recognize

l. Matthew 7:22 Or works of power

m. Matthew 7:24 Lit does

n. Matthew 7:24 Lit will

o. Matthew 7:25 Lit rivers

p. Matthew 7:26 Lit do

q. Matthew 7:27 Lit rivers

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 6:31 Lit Do to

b. Luke 6:31 Lit people

c. Luke 6:43 Lit again

d. Luke 6:45 Or treasury, storehouse

e. Luke 6:45 Lit the abundance of

f. Luke 6:47 Lit does

g. Luke 6:48 Lit dug and went deep

h. Luke 6:48 Lit river

I. Luke 6:49 Lit river

Commentary

“And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).The greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. In these study passages this week, we are called to spend time in prayer to God, seeking His will and provision, but we also learn that the outward fruit of loving God is, in fact, loving your neighbor. If you do the will of God, that’s the path to eternity with Him, and the will of God is for you to treat others as you want to be treated, not judging or deceiving or withholding from them.

The Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, is an ideology that many have attributed to Buddha, Confucius, or even rabbis who came before Jesus. However, these pre-Messianic teachings, while similar, are only found “in the negative: “Don’t do to someone else what you wouldn’t want him to do to you.” No positive action is contemplated. Jesus, however, requires His believers to initiate helpful actions toward others” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1273).

This teaching not only has bearing on our actions, but also on how we exercise Biblical discernment. We will be able to identify false prophets by their fruit. How do they treat others? How do they demonstrate an understanding of and obedience to God’s will? What is the overflow of their hearts that proceeds from their lips and manifests in their actions? It is important to note here that Jesus again insists His followers obey the law. When He turns away those who think they have been acting on His behalf on Earth, He says, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Jesus further reiterates His point and encourages His audience to heed His message through several comparisons. The series of contrasts between two gifts, two paths, two trees, and two houses exemplify a common teaching technique in Jewish and Greco-Roman culture at the time (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1189).

The gifts demonstrate the nature of God versus the nature of man. The gates represent the inward struggle of man against this sin nature. The gates “The order of the gate first and then the way suggests the gate is the entrance by faith in Christ into the way of the Christian life. It is interesting to recall that Christians were first called those of “the way” (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4; 24:14)… Christ Himself is both the gate and the way (cf. Jn 14:6), and God enables men to find that gate (cf. Jn 6:44)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1189). The analogy of trees depicts evidence of whether we have found the narrow way or not, and the analogy of houses illuminates whether our lifestyle is firmly and permanently rooted.

View the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/04/10/sermon-on-the-mount-part-7/

Scripture Reference

Matthew 7:7

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 30:19 O people in Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious at the sound of your cry; when He hears, He will answer you.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Matthew 18:19 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.”

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9 So I tell you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will remain–so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 John 3:22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Matthew 7:8

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:10

John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Matthew 7:11

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Isaiah 63:7 I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all the LORD has done for us–even the many good things He has done for the house of Israel according to His compassion and the abundance of His loving devotion.

Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Matthew 7:12

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Matthew 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Galatians 5:14 The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Matthew 7:13

Isaiah 35:8 And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it, only those who walk in that Way–and fools will not stray onto it.

Luke 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

Matthew 7:14

Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Isaiah 35:8 And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it, only those who walk in that Way–and fools will not stray onto it.

Matthew 7:15

1 Kings 13:18 Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.'” The old prophet was lying to him,

Jeremiah 23:16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Ezekiel 22:27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Daniel 11:34 Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely.

Matthew 24:11 and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

John 10:12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

Acts 13:6 They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

2 Peter 2:1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.

Revelation 19:20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Matthew 7:16

1 Samuel 24:13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

Proverbs 20:11 Even a young man is known by his actions–whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

James 3:12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Matthew 7:17

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Matthew 7:19

Daniel 4:14 He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.

Matthew 3:10 The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Luke 3:9 The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Luke 13:7 So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Titus 3:14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.

Matthew 7:20

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

James 3:12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Matthew 7:21

Matthew 25:10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

Matthew 25:11 Later, the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.

Matthew 7:22

Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Matthew 25:11 Later, the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Matthew 7:23

Psalm 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

Psalm 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.

Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Luke 13:27 And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’

Matthew 7:24

Proverbs 10:8 A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

Proverbs 12:7 The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?

Matthew 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Matthew 25:4 But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

Matthew 25:9 No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

John 13:17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.

James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Matthew 7:25

Proverbs 10:25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

Matthew 7:26

Job 22:16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a river.

Matthew 7:27

Job 22:16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a river.

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

Luke 6:31

Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.

Luke 6:43

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Luke 6:42 How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Luke 6:44

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Luke 6:45

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Luke 6:46

Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you ask, “How have we despised Your name?”

James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Luke 6:47

James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Luke 6:49

Luke 7:1 When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

Commentary

Acts 9:2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Acts 19:9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,

Acts 24:14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

54 – Sermon on the Mount Part 5; Matthew 6:19-7:6; Luke 6:37-42

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is [a]clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [c]wealth.

25 “For this reason I say to you, [d]do not be worried about your [e]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [f]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [g]hour to his [h]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [i]seek first [j]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [k]added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [l]care for itself. [m]Each day has enough trouble of its own.

7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [n]by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how [o]can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; [a]pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will [b]pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A [c]pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will [d]be like his teacher. 41 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 6:22 Or healthy; or sincere

b. Matthew 6:23 Or evil

c. Matthew 6:24 Gr mamonas, for Aram mamon (mammon); i.e. wealth, etc., personified as an object of worship

d. Matthew 6:25 Or stop being worried

e. Matthew 6:25 Lit soul

f. Matthew 6:26 Lit heaven

g. Matthew 6:27 Lit cubit (approx 18 in.)

h. Matthew 6:27 Or height

I. Matthew 6:33 Or continually seek

j. Matthew 6:33 Or the kingdom

k. Matthew 6:33 Or provided

l. Matthew 6:34 Lit worry about itself

m. Matthew 6:34 Lit Sufficient for the day is its evils

n. Matthew 7:2 Lit by what measure you measure

o. Matthew 7:4 Lit will

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 6:37 Lit release

b. Luke 6:38 Lit give

c. Luke 6:40 Or disciple

d. Luke 6:40 Or reach his teacher’s level

Commentary

Provision

This passage opens with the oft-cited verses about storing up treasure in Heaven, and then it seems to deviate from the topic with the verses on light from the eyes. There is an ancient concept that the eyes are windows to bring light to the body, and the eyes must be in good condition to be able to function in that capacity (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1186). Note the footnote for verse 22 says the word ‘clear’ can mean ‘healthy’ or ‘sincere’. The message Jesus wanted to convey is that of sincerity and single focus, which leads Him to the next point, that one cannot serve two masters. You can’t focus on God if you’re focused on money, so His comments about the eye make more sense in this context. Also, by being self-reliant and internally focused, you lose the opportunity to see how God can provide for your needs.

Jesus demonstrates how God provides by contrasting the worry of man with the free provision of God; however, He does not imply we should not work. Even though God provides food for the birds of the air, they still have to go out and get it. They don’t worry about it, but they do work for it. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” Our human tendency is to place faith in our ability to provide for ourselves and to worry over things out of our control, such as illness, markets, or disaster, assuming that, since God does not choose to manipulate or control all these things that our personal provision is also out of His scope. “All the while we forget that God never promised that we wouldn’t face hard times, and that He has many ways to help us through them when we do: family members, church communities, neighbors, charities, inheritances, even public agencies and nonprofit groups” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1637).

Judgment

Judgment can be a tricky subject, so it is important to understand the point Jesus is trying to make. There are plenty of times throughout the New Testament when we are called to exercise church discipline, to exhort other Christians in love, and to be discerning about who is allowed to remain a member of the church body. However, “the point being made here is that we are not to judge the inner motives of another. We are not to render a verdict based upon prejudiced information. Nor are we to use ourselves as the standard of judgment for “with what… ye mete” you shall be judged” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1188). Further, we are to challenge ourselves to live lives above reproach, else we find ourselves in our blindness, attempting to lead others into a truth we haven’t fully experienced or pursued ourselves.

I was extremely confused by the short section on giving what is holy to dogs and swine. At first glance, it seems to be out of context, similar to the verses on the eyes in the section on money and provision. In other parts of the gospel, Jesus tells Gentiles He can’t give the children’s (Jews’) food to the dogs (Gentiles). I thought maybe this was the same analogy, which strikes me as odd because it would imply, contrary to His commission of the disciples, that Jesus doesn’t want to share the gospel message with Gentiles.

The Nelson KJV Bible Commentary says “dogs” and “swine” in this case refer to people who refuse to hear the message of truth (not to be confused with those who have not heard the message before). To continue to offer a message of salvation to someone who hates it is futile, and they will seek all the more to destroy you if you persist (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1188). This section of the message is actually a follow-up to the previous statements about judgment because this explores a context in which judgment would be appropriate. For what it’s worth, this is a link to a question and answer site where anyone can ask a question and anyone can answer. I found the top respondent’s reply to be extremely helpful in deciphering Jesus’s message (bearing in mind, as always, that we should consider all commentary through the lens of Biblical discernment). https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/36308/what-does-give-that-which-is-holy-to-dogs-mean

View the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/04/03/sermon-on-the-mount-part-6/

Scripture References

Matthew 6:19

Exodus 22:2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.

Job 24:16 In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.

Proverbs 23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Luke 12:21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Luke 12:39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Luke 18:22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

James 5:2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.

Matthew 6:20

Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Luke 18:22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

1 Timothy 6:19 treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Matthew 6:21

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:22

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your vision is clear, your whole body also is full of light. But when it is poor, your body is full of darkness.

Luke 11:35 Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Matthew 6:23

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Mark 7:22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your vision is clear, your whole body also is full of light. But when it is poor, your body is full of darkness.

Matthew 6:24

1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

2 Kings 17:41 So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

Luke 16:11 If, then, you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

Matthew 6:25

Jeremiah 45:5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will grant your life as plunder.”

Matthew 10:19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 6:26

Job 35:11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’

Job 38:41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?

Psalm 50:11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

Psalm 104:27 All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.

Psalm 104:28 When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Psalm 147:9 He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

Luke 12:18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!

Matthew 6:27

Psalm 39:5 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 6:28

Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:27 Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 6:29

1 Kings 10:4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,

2 Chronicles 9:4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

2 Chronicles 9:20 All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.

Matthew 6:30

Psalm 90:6 in the morning it springs up new; by evening it fades and withers.

Matthew 8:26 “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 16:8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?

Luke 12:28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

James 1:10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

James 1:11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Matthew 6:31

Psalm 111:5 He provides food to those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:29 And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 6:32

Jeremiah 45:5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will grant your life as plunder.”

Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:33

1 Kings 3:13 Moreover, I will give you what you did not request–both riches and honor–so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.

Psalm 112:3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Proverbs 8:18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

Proverbs 10:3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.

Proverbs 28:10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

Isaiah 26:9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit within me diligently seeks You. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Isaiah 33:6 There will be times of security for you–a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.

Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel

Luke 12:31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Luke 18:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

Matthew 6:34

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 7:1

John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the Law and judges it. And if you judge the Law, you are not a practitioner of the Law, but a judge of it.

Matthew 7:2

John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the Law and judges it. And if you judge the Law, you are not a practitioner of the Law, but a judge of it.

Matthew 7:6

Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Matthew 7:6

Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

Matthew 15:26 But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Luke 6:37

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 23:16 Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.

Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 6:38

Psalm 79:12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Isaiah 65:6 Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps

Isaiah 65:7 both for your iniquities and those of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and scorned Me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their former deeds.”

Jeremiah 32:18 You show loving devotion to thousands, but lay the sins of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts,

Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.

Luke 6:39

Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Luke 6:40

Matthew 10:24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

John 13:16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

Luke 6:42

Luke 6:43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

53 – Sermon on the Mount Part 4, Matthew 6:1-18

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you [a]give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you [b]give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your [c]giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners [d]so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9 “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10

‘Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

11

‘Give us this day [e]our daily bread.

12

‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [f]evil. [g][For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

14 For if you forgive [h]others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive [i]others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they [j]neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Footnotes

a. Matthew 6:2 Or give alms

b. Matthew 6:3 Or give alms

c. Matthew 6:4 Or alms

d. Matthew 6:5 Lit to be apparent to men

e. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow

f. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one

g. Matthew 6:13 This clause not found in early mss

h. Matthew 6:14 Gr anthropoi

I. Matthew 6:15 Gr anthropoi

j. Matthew 6:16 Lit distort their faces, i.e. discolor their faces with makeup

Commentary

This section of Jesus’s teaching focuses on the proper and improper ways to worship, through giving, prayer, and fasting.

Giving

Jesus alludes to an apparently well-known phenomenon, which he calls “sounding a trumpet” when giving. This may have been metaphorical, but there are some theories as to a literal interpretation. “It has been supposed (1) that the wealthy Pharisees had a trumpet literally blown before them, to give notice to the poor of the neighbourhood that they were distributing their alms; (2) that the words refer to the clang of the money as it fell into the metal trumpet-shaped alms-boxes which were found in the synagogue, a clang which came as sweet music to the ears of the purse-proud giver” (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/6-2.htm). Either way, the implication of the remonstrance from Jesus is the same.

Prayer

When Jesus addresses repetitious prayer or worship, He is referring to the common practice of babbling which was “characteristic of the heathen. A good example of this is found in the ecstatic babblings of the false prophets in the Old Testament and in the prophets of Baal who confronted Elijah on Mt. Carmel (cf. I Kgs 18:26-29).Jesus condemns the use of empty repetition as an attempt to overcome the will of God by wearing Him out” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1183).

Having just finished condemning vain repetition, Jesus does not give His example of prayer in order for those exact words to be repeated over and over by His audience. The prayer contains elements which can be adopted by the Christian wishing to commune with God in any context. The prayer is succinct and lacks flowery embellishment. Jesus begins with, “Our Father”, a phrase that implies the speaker has been born again as a son or daughter of God. It opens with praise of God, follows with submission to the will of God, as well as a request for specific provision, and continues with a request for forgiveness and deliverance, closing with further praise and thanksgiving. I’ve heard it broken down this way; when you pray, begin by glorifying God, then expressing thanksgiving, asking for forgiveness, praying for others, and finally for self.

An idea further worth exploring is Jesus’s use of the collective pronoun, translated as ‘us’. We are to pray for the whole of God’s kingdom and the whole of His will to be realized. “The disciples were not to think of their own convenience as their foremost expression in prayer, but the full and quick realization of the effective rule of God on earth in the hearts of men… Prayer is an act of spiritual conformity to the very nature and purpose of God” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1184).

We read in the footnotes that the closing phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, “for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” is not in all manuscripts. This is not to say it was or was not part of Jesus’s teaching, but it is a reference to I Chronicles 29:11 and fits well in the context of this prayer.

Fasting

In the footnotes for letter ‘j’, it says that neglecting their appearance may actually have been an active discoloration of their faces with makeup. The Nelson KJV Bible Commentary says this was often accomplished with dust and ashes, per Isaiah 61:3. “In the original, there is a play upon two cognate words meaning, “they make their faces unappearable,” that they may “appear unto men”” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1185). These days, some worshippers still use ashes on their faces on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of their period of sacrifice for Lent.

Practices like public prayer and fasting are not honored in today’s society, as they were in Jesus’s day, so praying and fasting in secret are much easier to do now. In fact, doing so in private may preserve our pride more than a public announcement would enhance our righteous reputation. Just gather any group of Christians and ask someone to pray out loud; see how many eyes are averted to avoid volunteering for this task. But are there other ways we call attention to ourselves today, whether in Christian or secular circles? I’m not setting out to speculate about an answer to this question, but just to leave you with something to consider on your own.

View the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/03/28/sermon-on-the-mount-part-5/

Scripture References

Verse 1

Matthew 23:5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Verse 2

Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?

Matthew 23:5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Luke 6:24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Verse 4

Proverbs 25:22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Verse 5

Matthew 23:5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Luke 6:24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men–swindlers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.

Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

Verse 6

2 Kings 4:33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

Proverbs 25:22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Isaiah 26:20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.

Matthew 26:36 At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Acts 9:40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Verse 7

1 Kings 18:26 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

Verse 8

Psalm 38:9 O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

Psalm 69:17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!

Matthew 6:32 For the pagans strive after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Luke 12:30 For the nations of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Verse 9

2 Samuel 7:26 so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You.

Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Luke 11:2 So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.

Verse 10

Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength, who do His word, who hearken to the voice of his command.

Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 26:42 A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Luke 22:42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Acts 21:14 When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Verse 11

Ruth 1:6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.

Proverbs 30:8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.

Isaiah 33:16 he will dwell on the heights; his refuge will be the mountain fortress; his food will be provided and his water assured.

Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.

Verse 12

Exodus 34:7 maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means excuse the guilty; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered!

Psalm 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

Matthew 9:2 Just then, some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Verse 13

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.

Psalm 22:28 For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

Matthew 5:37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Luke 22:40 When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Peter 2:9 if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Verse 14

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 7:2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 18:35 That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Verse 15

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 18:35 That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Verse 16

Isaiah 58:5 Is this the fast I have chosen, a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Verse 17

Ruth 3:3 Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

Isaiah 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified

52 – Sermon on the Mount Part 3; Matthew 5:21-48; Luke 6:27-30, 32-36

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that [a]the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be [b]liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be [c]guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[d]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be [e]guilty before [f]the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be [g]guilty enough to go into the [h]fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are presenting your [i]offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [j]offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [k]offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [l]cent.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye makes you [m]stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you [n]to lose one of the parts of your body, [o]than for your whole body to be thrown into [p]hell. 30 If your right hand makes you [q]stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you [r]to lose one of the parts of your body, [s]than for your whole body to go into [t]hell.

31 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who [u]divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [v]divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, you have heard that [w]the ancients were told, ‘[x]You shall not [y]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [z]vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or [aa]by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [ab]of evil.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your [ac]shirt, let him have your [ad]coat also. 41 Whoever [ae]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [af]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore [ag]you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who [a]mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your [b]coat, do not withhold your [c]shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, [d]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 [e]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients

b. Matthew 5:21 Or guilty before

c. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

d. Matthew 5:22 Or empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) fr Aram reqa

e. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

f. Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin

g. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

h. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire

I. Matthew 5:23 Or gift

j. Matthew 5:24 Or gift

k. Matthew 5:24 Or gift

l. Matthew 5:26 Lit quadrans (equaling two mites); i.e. 1/64 of a daily wage

m. Matthew 5:29 I.e. sin

n. Matthew 5:29 Lit that one…be lost

o. Matthew 5:29 Lit not your whole body

p. Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna

q. Matthew 5:30 I.e. sin

r. Matthew 5:30 Lit that one…be lost

s. Matthew 5:30 Lit not your whole body

t. Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna

u. Matthew 5:32 Or sends away

v. Matthew 5:32 Or sent away

w. Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients

x. Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here

y. Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows

z. Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths

aa. Matthew 5:35 Or toward

ab. Matthew 5:37 Or from the evil one

ac. Matthew 5:40 Lit tunic; i.e. a garment worn next to the body

ad. Matthew 5:40 Lit cloak; i.e. an outer garment

ae. Matthew 5:41 Lit will force

af. Matthew 5:45 Or show yourselves to be

ag. Matthew 5:48 Lit you shall be

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 6:28 Or revile

b. Luke 6:29 I.e. outer garment

c. Luke 6:29 Or tunic; i.e. garment worn next to body

d. Luke 6:35 Or not despairing at all

e. Luke 6:36 Or Become

Commentary

This passage is probably too long for one post, but I’m going with it. I’ll just make the notes on each section as brief as I can. My plan is to divide the comments into the individual topics Jesus addresses throughout this section of the teaching.

Murder

As we have discussed in the past several studies, Jesus does not eradicate any aspect of the law, but in fact extends the expectation of observance to the heart behind the behavior. He begins this section by equating hatred to murder. “The reference to killing is clearly understood in its context in both the Old Testament and New Testament as referring to an act of murder. It must be remembered that the God who commanded the children of Israel not to murder one another also commanded them at times to kill an enemy in order to defend their nation” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1177).

Calling a grown man insulting names was an expression of hatred during Jesus’s day, so even though these insults seem trivial to us today, they were very serious at the time. “The term raca (meaning “vain fellow” or “empty head”) was a Hebrew or Aramaic expression of contempt (cf. II Sam 6:20). …Thou fool, (Gr moros) means “stupid.” We have developed the English word moron from this term. Those using such a malicious expression would be in danger of hell fire. …The idea clearly seems to be that if one makes light of his fellow man he will be in danger of slander. But if one makes bitter, damning statements with reference to hell toward his fellow man, he shall actually be in danger of hell himself… The term hell (Gr geena) is Gehenna, which was the hellenized form of the name of the Valley of Hinnom at Jerusalem in which fires were constantly burning to consume the refuse of the city. This valley provided a powerful and graphic picture of the ultimate destruction of hell and the lake of fire” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1177).

Sacrifice with a Guilty Conscience

The reference Jesus makes when He says not to give an offering while angry with one’s brother is to the common practice of “buying off one’s conscience” with an offering. A guilt offering is therefore not a true offering to God, and He will not receive it as such; nor will it please Him or mitigate His anger over the sin toward a brother (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178).

Adultery

With regard to plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand, Jesus is not suggesting literal castration or removal of any member of the body as some attempt to satisfy God. Jesus often uses hyperbole and metaphor to illustrate His points. The offending member is the heart, and the sinful nature therein should be dealt with in as extreme a manner as is possible (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178).

Divorce

“The normal custom of the ancient Near East was for a man to verbally divorce his wife. The Arab custom was to say “I divorce you” three times and the divorce was consummated without any legal protection of any kind to the wife. In contrast, the ancient law of Israel insisted on a writing of divorcement or certificate of divorce. This written statement gave legal protection to both the wife and the husband” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178-1179). One of the legal reasons for divorce at the time was infertility, and Jesus’s statement about divorce in the Sermon on the Mount makes it clear that barrenness is not a morally acceptable case for marital separation. Because Jesus expresses that the only legitimate reason for divorce is infidelity, He tells the men that divorcing their wives will make others suspicious of adultery (“makes her commit adultery”).

Oaths and Swearing

At this time in Jewish culture, it was very common to swear by God, the temple, the gold on the temple, etc, and the being or thing that was the subject of the oath carried more or less weight, giving the swearer more or less latitude to actually lie. Jesus asserts that if they will all get in the habit of telling the truth all the time, they will be rid of this elaborate farce that angers God, anyway.

Vengeance

Although “an eye for an eye” is a reference to Exodus 2:24, this original law had devolved into a law of vengeance for the Jewish people of Jesus’s day. “These passages alone do not mean that a man should not defend his family or his country, but rather that he should not attempt personal vengeance, even through the means of the law, to compensate for a personal injury” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1180). The Word in Life Study Bible says, “in vengeance one inflicts harm even though immediate danger is past… In the case of lawsuits… the Law permitted demanding a tunic (or shirt) in pledge for a loan, but prohibited taking a cloak (or coat) overnight, because it was needed for warmth (Ex 22:26-27). However, Jesus’ listeners commonly pressed for the cloak – for ruinous damages – almost literally “suing the pants off each other,” as we would say. But Christ’s point was that if lawsuits have to go to extremes, they ought to be in the extreme of charity” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635).

Loving Enemies

Since the Jews were subjugated to Roman rule, a soldier could require a Jewish person to carry the soldier’s armor and gear for one mile (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1181). Additionally, some of Jesus’s audience would have been subject to ancient Persian law, which “permitted postal carriers to compel private citizens to help carry their loads” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635). These people were the enemies of Jews, and one manner of making an impression on them would have been to delight in the work they were forced to do and to do more than what was required.

Loving thy neighbor was part of the original law in Leviticus 19:18-34, but by Jesus’s day, the cultural tag line to this law was to “hate thine enemy.” There would have been perceived enemies within that very audience; this may be the reason the author mentions people travelling to hear Jesus from Tyre and Sidon. We mentioned in a previous post that the cultural influences of Tyre and Sidon were in direct opposition to Jewish law and tradition. Jesus assaults the lines they have drawn between one another and encourages them to love each other.

Striving for Perfection

Jesus tells us to be perfect, just as God is perfect, but He knows we cannot be without sin. What He means here is that a man must be a Christian before he can exhibit Christian behavior. In Luke, “Jesus says to be merciful as your Father also is merciful. The fatherhood of God comes only by being born into His family by the new birth (Jn 3:3-7). Christ said that prior to that experience, men are naturally the children of the devil (Jn 8:44)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1273).

“The key to understanding this section is to keep in mind the major thrust of [Jesus’s] teaching: good not evil, grace not vengeance, love not hatred. That is the morality of Christ” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635).

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/03/13/sermon-on-the-mount-part-4/

Scripture Reference

Matthew 5:21

Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Matthew 5:22

Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.

Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Luke 22:66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their council and said,

John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.

Acts 4:15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

Acts 5:21 At daybreak, the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived in the Council, they called together the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail for the apostles.

Acts 5:27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people and elders and scribes. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Acts 6:15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 22:30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Acts 23:1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

Acts 24:20 Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Matthew 5:23

Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Matthew 5:24

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Matthew 5:25

Proverbs 25:8 do not go out to argue in haste. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your opponent puts you to shame?

Matthew 26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

Matthew 5:26

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

Mark 12:42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.

Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Luke 12:59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Matthew 5:27

Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery.

Leviticus 18:20 You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not commit adultery.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Matthew 5:28

Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Leviticus 18:20 You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing–a very beautiful woman.

Job 31:1 I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Ezekiel 23:16 At the sight of them she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

James 1:15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Matthew 5:29

Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

Matthew 5:30

Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Matthew 5:31

Deuteronomy 24:1 If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.

Deuteronomy 24:3 and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies,

Jeremiah 3:1 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers–and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.

Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and I hate when a man covers himself and his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. Therefore guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Matthew 19:3 Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Matthew 19:7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Mark 10:4 They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

Matthew 5:32

Jeremiah 3:9 Indifferent to her immorality, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

Matthew 19:9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”

Mark 10:11 So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1 Corinthians 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Matthew 5:33

Leviticus 19:12 You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 5:11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him, and take your oaths using only His name.

Deuteronomy 23:21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 23:23 Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Matthew 5:34

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Matthew 23:22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

Acts 7:49 Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Matthew 5:35

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphron is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Acts 7:49 Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

Matthew 5:37

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

1 John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Matthew 5:38

Exodus 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him.

Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Matthew 5:39

1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak to you?”

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will deliver you.

Proverbs 24:29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

Luke 6:7 Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

John 18:23 Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

1 Corinthians 6:7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Matthew 5:40

1 Corinthians 7:36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

Matthew 5:41

Mark 15:21 Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

Matthew 5:42

Deuteronomy 15:7 If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

Deuteronomy 15:8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

Proverbs 21:26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

1 Timothy 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

Matthew 5:43

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation.

Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Matthew 5:44

1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

Proverbs 19:11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.

Acts 7:60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

Matthew 5:45

Jeremiah 5:24 They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Acts 14:17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Matthew 5:46

Matthew 9:10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples–for there were many who followed Him.

Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Luke 5:29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 7:29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’

Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

Matthew 5:47

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

Matthew 5:48

Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire congregation of the Israelites and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Deuteronomy 18:13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

James 1:4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Luke 6:27

1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Luke 6:28

1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Luke 6:30

Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

Luke 6:34

Deuteronomy 15:8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

Luke 6:35

Psalm 58:11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Luke 6:36

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Commentary

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Ex 22:26 If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.

51 – Sermon on the Mount Part 2; Matthew 5:13-20

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [a]can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [b]hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [c]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not [d]the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [e]others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [f]keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Footnotes

a. Matthew 5:13 Lit will

b. Matthew 5:14 Or mountain

c. Matthew 5:15 Or peck-measure

d. Matthew 5:18 Lit one iota (Heb yodh) or one projection of a letter (serif)

e. Matthew 5:19 Gr anthropoi

f. Matthew 5:19 Lit does

Commentary

I chose to make this passage into its own study because there is no passage in Luke 6 that mirrors the content. There are a few different themes in it, so I’ll try to take a look at them one-by-one. Contrary to my stated objective last week, this week’s passage doesn’t have too much to study historically or culturally, so I will try to break down the metaphors.

Salt

What is the relevance of the metaphor of salt to the Christian lifestyle? “The salt adds flavoring, acts as a preservative, melts coldness and heals wounds” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178). The Christian is called to influence his community in more ways than converting others to faith (although that is the objective of these other areas of ministry). “One of the most powerful arenas for influence is the workplace, particularly jobs that affect values, laws, and public opinion. That’s why believers need to pursue careers in education, government, and journalism, among many others. They may not be able to transform the entire society, but they can use whatever influence they have to promote Christlike values and hinder evil” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1632).

To carry on the metaphor, if salt loses its taste, it becomes ineffective at its purpose. How might a Christian become ineffective? His testimony becomes compromised by hypocritical behavior, or he loses his passion to share the good news, at which point the witness he claims is reviled and trampled by men. Jesus says this condition may be irretrievable (how can it be made salty again), once the Christian has lost the trust and respect of those around him through hypocrisy.

Light

Likewise, if the Christian truly believes eternal life hangs in the balance for the hearer, he will be compelled to share the message at all times because if he does not, who will be persuaded that he really believes it? This is the relevance of the light metaphor. A candle is wasted under a basket, and the light of a city at night can’t be hidden. “God provides the light and it continues to shine, but as believers we must keep our lives clean before the Lord in order not to cover up the light which He has placed within us. Darkness is the absence of light and darkness alone cannot dispel the light, but the smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1176).

The Law

When Jesus refers to the smallest letter or mark of the law, “He explained that even the smallest statement in the law must be fulfilled. [The] smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet [is] called yodh. It functions as a ‘Y’ in English and looks similar to an apostrophe. A tittle [or serif or mark] is a small projection on the edge of certain Hebrew letters to distinguish them from one another. For example, the Hebrew ‘D’ differs from the ‘R’ only by the use of the tittle” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pf. 1177). These markings may seem so small as to be insignificant, but they each have an impact on the content of the text. In the same way, each guideline in the law serves its purpose in preserving the whole.

Righteousness

Throughout this study, there have been a few passages I have come across that make me feel as though I’m doing things all wrong. This is one of them. I don’t follow every serif of Jewish law, and I’ve almost certainly expressed to others that I don’t think it’s necessary. Jesus taught, not liberty from the law, but an extension of the law from mere actions to the spirit. Just as Jesus’s miracles (actions) proved His deity (spirit) to unbelievers who came to see Him, so our observance of the law (actions) are an overflow or proof of our spirit to those around us. Thankfully, Jesus tells the crowd that those who do not observe every tittle of the law will be the least in the kingdom – at least they’re still in the kingdom! However, He also goes on to say “that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees were regarded as the most righteous of all men at the time (even though they took ethical liberties and plotted sinister schemes), so being more righteous than them could only mean committing beyond observance of the law to the spirit of the law, and further: accepting the grace offered by the life and death of Jesus.

This is a really challenging concept. There is grace for sin, but you still have to make every effort to keep yourself totally pure. Jesus often refers to specific sins or lack of righteousness that will keep people from the kingdom of Heaven, but He also says He is the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father except through Him. Paul summed it up in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” He prepared us for good works, but we are saved by faith.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/03/06/sermon-on-the-mount-part-3/

Scripture References

Matthew 5:13

Job 6:6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Luke 14:34 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?

Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Matthew 5:14

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Revelation 1:20 This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 2:5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Matthew 5:15

Zechariah 4:2 “What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to each of the lamps.

Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp so he can place it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a lampstand?

Luke 8:16 No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.

Luke 11:33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.

Luke 11:36 So if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Hebrews 9:2 A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

 

Revelation 2:5

Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Matthew 5:16

Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

John 15:8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Matthew 5:17

Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.

Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the Law.

Matthew 5:18

Psalm 111:8 They are upheld forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Luke 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Matthew 5:19

Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.

Matthew 5:20

Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the yeast used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men–swindlers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive.’

2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

50 – Sermon on the Mount Part 1; Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:17-26

Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the [a]mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

3 “[b]Blessed are the [c]poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the [d]gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the [a]people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.

20 And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are [b]you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are [c]you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to [d]treat the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 Woe to you who [e]are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to [f]treat the false prophets in the same way.

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 5:1 Or hill

b. Matthew 5:3 I.e. fortunate or prosperous, and so through v 11

c. Matthew 5:3 I.e. those who are not spiritually arrogant

d. Matthew 5:5 Or humble, meek

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 6:19 Lit crowd

b. Luke 6:20 Lit the

c. Luke 6:21 Lit the

d. Luke 6:23 Lit do to

e. Luke 6:25 Lit having been filled

f. Luke 6:26 Lit do to

Commentary

Context

John the Baptist and Jesus had both warned people to repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The Jewish people had believed that kingdom would be a political kingdom, and they came to hear Jesus talk about His imminent reign. “Instead, Jesus talked about a lifestyle – the lifestyle of those who intend to live in the kingdom… As [they] gathered on a hillside… Jesus began to fill out the implications of His appeal for repentance. It would mean far more than an outward show of piety. Indeed, Jesus urged His listeners to make such a complete change of heart and life that they would “be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:48)” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1630). “This message does not tell one how to be saved; it tells one what it is like to be saved. It explains the quality of the life changed by the saving grace of God” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1174).

In addition to the Jewish people from the area, Luke also refers to people from Tyre and Sidon, who were present during Jesus’s teaching. This is remarkable because Tyre and Sidon were often held up as quintessential examples of depravity. They were major seaports on the coast and not only practiced paganism themselves, but introduced their practices into the Jewish community, as well (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1786). The passages tell us that many people were drawn by Jesus’s healing ability, which may have been the reason residents of Tyre and Sidon traveled 20+ miles to see Him, but, as was Jesus’s plan, they stayed for the teaching.

This, the longest recorded sermon by Jesus, searches the boundaries between law and grace, ideas that would primarily speak to a Jewish audience bound by legalism. Contrary to what Jesus teaches, there are many people today who suggest we don’t even have to attempt to be righteous because of the grace we have been offered, while others insist on modern-day legalism that binds us entirely to our own feeble strength, rather than the power of grace. “Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has observed: “Some so emphasize the law as to turn the gospel of Jesus Christ with its glorious liberty into nothing but a collection of moral maxims. It is all law to them and there is no grace left. They so talk of the Christian, that it becomes pure legalism and there is no grace in it. Let us remember also that it is equally possible so to overemphasize grace at the expense of the law as again, to have something which is not the gospel of the New Testament” (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, pp. 12-15). He goes on to note that the Sermon on the Mount… was preached to people who were meant to practice it not only at that time but ever afterwards as well” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1174).

Not only was this a message for the people, but, as Jesus is addressing His newly-selected disciples, it is something of a formal training for them (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1273). The two messages in Matthew and Luke bear striking similarities, but some differences, as well. All the authors of my resources seem to agree that Jesus, as a good teacher, would have reiterated His primary message on many occasions. Therefore, these two accounts, while similar, may not be the same exact event. However, for the purpose of this study, it makes sense to group the content together.

Regarding the content, I do not want my commentary on these passages to exceed the scope of what I intend for my study. My objective from the beginning has been to support the credibility of Jesus as the Christ, and my notes on the messages themselves generally focus on debunking supposed contradictions or highlighting the alignment of the messages with the rest of the Bible. In that vein, even though I will be studying the Sermon on the Mount for the next few weeks, I will keep my comments on the message relatively limited.

Beatitudes (Blessings)

In the original Greek, the word used for Blessed can be translated as ‘to be envied, fortunate, well off, happy.’ (https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-3.htm). Jesus begins His teaching with a list of qualities, the possessors of which should count themselves fortunate. The first virtue Christ points out is to be poor in spirit, and if you think about it, humility is a prerequisite for all the others. The footnotes for Matthew say “poor in spirit” means “not spiritually arrogant”. You cannot always be right and also be a peacemaker, or be self-righteous and yet hunger for righteousness.

Woes

I was wondering about the Woes in Luke when Jesus says “woe to the rich”. I was thinking we often cite passages that say God wants to bless His people, so why then would there be woe to those who are rich, or who are full, or who laugh? Couldn’t those things be blessings from God? Maybe it’s the difference between humble wealth and arrogant wealth: the difference between money and love of money (1 Tim 6:10). The references for Matt 5:3 cite Rev 3:17; You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. “Wealth should be acknowledged as from God, and used in a sacred stewardship” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1273).

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/02/28/sermon-on-the-mount-part-2/

Scripture References

Matthew 5:1

Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.

Luke 6:12 In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.

John 6:3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

John 6:15 Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Matthew 5:2

Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,

Acts 18:14 But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.

Matthew 5:3

Isaiah 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being, declares the LORD. This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Mark 10:14 But When Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luke 22:29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,

Luke 22:30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Matthew 5:4

Isaiah 61:2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being, declares the LORD. This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

John 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'”

Matthew 5:5

Psalm 25:13 His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:9 For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

Isaiah 29:19 The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Matthew 5:6

Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.

Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.

Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all of you who thirst, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost!

Isaiah 55:2 Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Jeremiah 31:25 for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

John 4:14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:48 I am the bread of life.

John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Matthew 5:7

2 Samuel 17:28 They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,

2 Samuel 22:26 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, and to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

Psalm 18:25 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

Proverbs 11:17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

Proverbs 11:25 A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Matthew 18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 5:8

2 Samuel 22:27 to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

Job 19:26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

Psalm 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to falsehood, who does not swear deceitfully.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Proverbs 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Revelation 22:4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Matthew 5:10

Isaiah 66:5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Mark 10:14 But When Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luke 22:29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,

James 5:11 See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

Matthew 5:11

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 51:7 Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.

Jeremiah 37:14 “That is a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Matthew 5:12

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Jeremiah 37:14 “That is a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers–

Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

1 Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

Hebrews 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

Hebrews 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Luke 6:17

Matthew 4:25 The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,

Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

Luke 6:12 In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Luke 6:19

Matthew 9:21 She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

Matthew 14:36 and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

Luke 5:17 One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.

Luke 6:22

John 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Luke 6:23

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Psalm 58:11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Luke 6:24

Amos 6:1 Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.

Matthew 6:2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:5 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 men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Luke 16:25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are left to suffer.

James 5:1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail for the misery to come upon you.

Luke 6:25

James 4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Luke 6:26

Proverbs 27:21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Commentary

Matt 5:48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all [a]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.