Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/1): Matthew 6:5-18.

Oct1

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

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REVIEW – The first of Jesus’ three warnings against hypocrisy in a believer’s life was about charitable giving. Yes, this is a good thing. Many people are needy and poor, and a believer who has been blessed by God with so great a salvation, not to speak of material things, should be willing to bless others with their help and finances.

But the WAY we give is also important. Jesus condemns those who make a show of it, who want people to see and praise them for it. These folks get their reward right then. God’s way is to give secretly and humbly. HE will see this and reward us.

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Matthew 6:5-8.

“When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.”

Jesus warns us against hypocrisy in prayer. It’s hard to imagine this sin showing up in such a sacred action as communing with our heavenly Father, but Jesus says “when,” not “if,” it does. We’re sinners, so I guess we should expect our hearts to be tempted in this way. So how can we tell if our hearts are not right, even when we pray?

“They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners…”

There’s nothing wrong so far. We can stand to pray in church and Bible study meetings; we can even stand on a street corner and pray. Before the broadcast media we have today, street preachers often prayed and preached on street corners. It’s not the action, but the heart attitude.

“…that they may be ‘seen’ by others.”

Seen by others as ‘pious’. Seen by others as way ‘more righteous’ than any of them. Seen and even praised for their ‘dedication to God’. THIS is what Jesus condemns. This is what will NOT be rewarded.

“But when YOU pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who SEES in secret will reward you.”

Let’s make our prayer time private, between only the Lord and ourselves. Others need not see or hear our groaning, weeping, confessing, or thanking God. Alone with the Lord, we can pour out our hearts’ longings, fears, and disappointments. We can earnestly intercede for a friend or family member. We can also engage in joyous, exuberant praise.

See how honest this is? If we look for man’s praise, we could never speak to God in this way. (And He won’t respond anyway.)

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.What is the other way that Jesus says we are hypocrites in prayer?

“When you pray, do not “heap up empty phrases” as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard (by God) for their “many words.” Do not be like them.”

This is basically being in love with our own words. When we do this, we are really praying to ourselves, admiring how we say it, marveling at our lofty, theological speech, how beautiful and poetic it sounds. And if others hear these “great” words, all the better!

Example: The Pharisee’s prayer in the temple in Luke 18:9-14:

“ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’”

This man was praying to himself, and to the people around him, while the “tax collector,” whom he considered a great sinner, prayed off in the corner to God alone. “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Whose prayer was “rewarded?” Jesus said it was the tax collector who went home justified.

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Matthew 6:9-13.

Then Jesus teaches His listeners, those who are following Him, His disciples… HOW to pray. “Pray then like this:”

The following words are so familiar to us, we could probably recite them in our sleep. But Jesus says this is the WAY believers are to pray. (NOT the actual same words.)

Notice first, the prayer begins with praise to our Father in Heaven, unlike how that Pharisee began.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” Hallowed means “holy,” set apart. Psalm 111:9b says, “Holy and awesome is His name.”

We might begin our praying with these words. Dear God (or Father in heaven), “Your name is holy and awesome!” Then continue with the praise for Him that wells up in your heart.

If you need help, many of the Psalms praise the Lord beautifully, including more in Psalm 111. “Great and wonderful are Your works.” “Your righteousness endures forever.” “You are gracious and merciful.” “You remember your promises forever.” “Your word is trustworthy.” “You sent redemption to your people (Jesus).”

You could spend an hour this way in praise – in your room, with the door shut, alone with God.

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“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Before you put ONE REQUEST into your prayer, acknowledge that you willingly submit to all God’s purposes and plans for your life – for HIS glory.

Remember how Jesus prayed in Gethsemane? “Nevertheless, not MY will, but YOUR will be done.”

Remember also Roman 8:28. Perhaps even pray it: “Father, I know that, because I love You and You have called me according to Your own purposes, all things will work together for my good, even the things I consider trials. I trust You in this and submit to Your perfect will.”

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NOW that our minds and spirits are willing for God’s will in our lives, we can offer our requests, both for ourselves and for others. We can also confess our sins against Him and others, assured that He will hear and forgive, for He has promised. (1 John 1:9)

“Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

See how THIS humble prayer is so opposite the prideful, boasting words of the Pharisee?

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

We KNOW, that our holy God does NOT tempt us to do evil. (James 1:13), but He WILL allow situations where evil is present to tempt us, teach us, and strengthen (or humble) us.

Remember Job (Job 2:9 – allowing Satan to hurt Job in every way but death).

Remember Peter. (Luke 22:31 – allowing Satan to “sift Peter like wheat.”)

Of course, we don’t WANT these trials and may pray not to experience them, but God knows what is best for our spiritual growth. He may allow trials that hurt and seem like evil, but KNOW that He is faithful and…

“He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to ENDURE it.” And ultimately HE will receive the glory for our growth in holiness.

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Matthew 6:14-15.

Then it seems, Jesus goes back to expand on one point in that sample prayer. Forgiving others. “Or else… God will not forgive you.”

Yep, that’s a hard one. WE feel hurt, defiled, ridiculed, belittled, etc., etc., etc. WE want revenge. We do NOT want to forgive others (in our natural flesh). Even as believers, who have been washed in the cleansing blood of Jesus, totally forgiven and bound for heaven, even now, we often hold grudges.

Jesus warns against this, saying if we do, God will NOT forgive us.

WHAT? Does He take back our salvation, our assurance of heaven? NO! That eternal forgiveness is sure.

As with Jesus at the last supper with His disciples, they had been “washed” (saved by faith in Him). They needed only the dust of the world cleaned from their feet. DAILY sins need to be confessed. Grudges need to be released. Reconciliation needs to be made. This clears our heart, and God “washes our feet” so to speak.

Oh, and that feels so good. To be clean!

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Matthew 6:16-18

The third Christian duty – fasting – can also be corrupted by our pride.

Like with giving and praying, our fasting from food (or even other things that are important to us) for the sake of spending more time with our Lord, should be NOT visible to others. We shouldn’t go around with a gloomy face, a hungry look, drab clothing … so that people ask whats the matter, or assume we are fasting and praise us for our “holiness.”

This would be disgusting to God, I would think. No, as with the other things, our fasting should be a secret and precious thing shared only with our loving Father.

Self denial is personified in Jesus.

Let us look to Him always, who, “though he was in the form of God, did ot count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but made Himself nothing taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of man. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.” Philippians 2:6-8.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/30): Matthew 6:1-4.

Sep30

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Beware of practicing your righteous deeds before other people in order to be seen by them…” Matthew 6:1

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REVIEW – Jesus has been teaching the crowd on the mountainside that those in HIS kingdom are righteous. They carry their obedience to the Law beyond the “letter” (the actual words) to the very heart of the Law and their God. Don’t do the least you can to obey the Law; instead, go beyond what you can to show love for your Father in heaven and to all people.

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Matthew 6:1-2.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.”

Remember, Jesus is not saying these people were righteous. Even the uber-righteous-acting Pharisees fell FAR short of what God required. See Matthew 5:20. Jesus is talking here about righteous acts, the things they did, and WE do, that make us “feel” like we’re not so bad after all.

In this section (6:1-21), Jesus talks about giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. Any or all of these can become a way to pump up our pride. Beware, because our “righteousness” comes only from the Lord.

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“Thus when you give…” Yes, we are to give to the needy. God WANTS us to do this.

Deuteronomy 15:11 “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’“

It’s not THAT we give our money, but HOW we do it, that Jesus calls attention to.

“…sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues (Can you imagine that?) and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.”

Jesus condemns giving our “alms” blatantly, boastfully, drawing attention to ourselves when we drop a dollar (or a hundred) in the offering plate or hand a coin (or a five) to a homeless man. Do we make sure someone is watching first? Do we wave our offering about so people look our way?

Beware, Jesus says, for you have your reward right there in the moment. No “treasure” is stored up for you in heaven for this selfish, prideful act. If man sees and approves of your actions, God usually does not.

So how ARE we to give to the poor, to missions, to the work of our church?

In secret.

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Matthew 6:3-4.

Jesus says, when you give, don’t let “your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

What does that mean? Are we talking about husband and wife here? No, giving is actually something that a married couple should share.

Jesus implies you should give so discreetly that you don’t even mentally congratulate yourself or dwell on your own generosity. Keep your giving to the needy, or tithing to your church, a secret. (Okay, your church treasurer knows how much, but that’s another discussion.)

If you do this, YOU will feel better (guaranteed), and your heavenly Father (the One who really counts) will reward you. He SEES either way you give, but when you give “for His sake alone,” He will reward you.

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What kind of reward? You won’t know. OR…maybe you will. We have found that when we are faithful to the Lord in giving – in obedience and to please Him – He blesses us in so many ways we can’t keep up.

Read Malachi 3:10. Really! Do it right now!

And if you have time, read Philippians 4:14-19 too.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/29): Matthew 5:38-48.

Sep29

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 6:44

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REVIEW – Jesus has been comparing the Law and the teachings of the religious leaders to the principles of the kingdom of heaven. He taught how God’s rule on telling the truth when making a vow, and promptly fulfilling it, applies to all our promises. Don’t try to impress others by vowing extraordinary things. Don’t be known as procrastinators. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Instead, let your promises be YES, I will do it, or NO, I can’t do it right now. Yes or No; nothing more. Then follow through if it’s a yes.

(NOTE: After yesterday’s post, I was convicted about a particular “vow” (promise) that I often fail to keep. When someone tells me of a struggle or sad situation they are dealing with, I often respond, “I’ll pray for you.” But then I don’t. I forget. It would have been better for me NOT to have promised (vowed).

So now, I will try to either stop right then and pray for the person or situation before we part, or I will write it somewhere (phone, notepad, palm of my hand) to remind me at my prayer time. Please, LORD, help me to be more faithful in keeping my vows to others and to You.)

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Matthew 6:38-42.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth…'”

Yes, that IS in the Bible. It’s in Exodus 21:24, and it includes WAY more than eyes and teeth.

“…if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Leviticus 21:24 adds “fracture for fracture” and says this law applied to Israelites as well as other peoples living in their land.

WOW!!

BUT… the whole point is NOT personal retaliation. It’s judgment on an offense, ruled by a judge. Not by an individual, and not in the heat of the moment. It was for the protection of the injured, sort of an insurance policy. It was also a pretty good deterrent.

But what this law in Moses’ time REALLY accomplished was EQUAL punishment for the crime. A person who knocked out a tooth might lose a tooth too, but they were not to lose their life. And not everyone else in their family was to lose a tooth. The person guilty would receive just punishment, and then it was DONE.

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But what about Jesus’s words? “But I say to you, ‘Do not RESIST the one who is evil.”

This is about personal retaliation. It is NOT about a criminal offense or a military aggression. And it ties in with what Jesus will say next about loving your enemy. It is how a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, having the “attitudes” Jesus first explained, would respond to personal injustice.

“But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Didn’t Jesus do this with Pilate’s soldiers?)

“And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Think of Simon who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus.)

“Give to the one who begs from you, and “do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Give up your personal rights (and/or your possessions) for the sake of the kingdom. Why? WHY should we do this???

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Matthew 6:43-48.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'”

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you … so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

“You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

WHOA! No way!!

But Jesus says, ‘Yes, way.’

Because even “tax collectors” (the worst people in the view of a pious Pharisee), even THEY love the neighbors who love them back. And yes, because even Gentiles (looked down on by ALL Jews) greet only their brothers and not others.

Jesus is telling His listeners on that mountainside that THEY (if they are to be citizens of His kingdom) must be different. Other people should be able to SEE the difference in them (like a city on a hill). They are to be like sons of their Father in heaven. They are to be PERFECT as their Heavenly Father.

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It’s impossible, you say. I say that too! We can never do all that Jesus says people of His kingdom do. We are sinners, imperfect, and on our best day, we are sinful enough to send us straight to hell.

So what are we to do? How are we to take Jesus’ words?

Little by little, Jesus is showing them (and us) that we CANNOT be perfect. We cannot even be good. We are sinners. It’s why we need Jesus, why He came.

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As these Jewish people knew so well from the Law, the only way anyone could approach a holy God was with a sacrifice; a substitute; that would die in their place after they symbolically laid their hands (and their sins) on its head before killing it.

Were they perfect? No. But when the holy God saw the blood of the lamb covering their sin, they could approach Him.

Jesus was showing them that picture, one step at a time. First, their sin and inability to be perfect; then that HE would BE the (only) way they could approach their Heavenly Father.

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“For our sake, God made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/28): Matthew 5:33-37.

Sep28

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“.” Matthew

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REVIEW – Last time, Jesus taught about adultery and divorce in His kingdom of heaven, where humility, gentleness, mercy, and purity of heart should be found. Betrayal in the form of unfaithfulness should be the ONLY reason for divorce, and even then, it would be better to confess your sins to one another (James 5:16), forgive, and be reconciled.

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Matthew 6:33-36.

“You’ve heard it said by those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn‘.” (See Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21, 23.)

In other words, if you make a vow to God or to another person, fulfill it quickly and completely. That’s pretty easy to understand. If you say you will do something, do it. Be honest and honorable.

Now you may have been “less than honest” in the past, so others no longer believe your promises. What are you to do?

In this case, Jesus says not to multiply your sins. “Do not take an oath, either by heaven or the earth, or by Jerusalem.” (to make it sound like you are really, REALLY sincere this time) For these are holy to God. Instead of making your vow or promise more sure, you are profaning the things of God.

(Isaiah 66:1 quotes the LORD saying, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.” Psalm 48:2 says that Jerusalem is “the city of the Great King,” referring to God, not David.)

Jesus says you aren’t even to swear “by your head,” for you can’t make one hair white or black. (Well, today, you CAN by using hair dye, but He means that when you swear, you can’t.)

And no one will believe you more if you “swear by your grandmother’s grave,” or your “class ring,” or by “crossing your heart,” or by “linking pinkie fingers.”

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Matthew 5:37.

So what is the solution for someone who sincerely wants to live in the light of the kingdom of heaven?

Jesus makes it simple. Just say “Yes.” Or “No.” And mean it. “Anything more than this comes from evil. (the evil one).

Start now; it may take a while for others to believe your promises. Like the LORD, your word should be true. Always.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/25): Matthew 5:27-32.

Sep25

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“But I say to you….” Matthew 5:28a

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REVIEW – Last time, Jesus began a series of “heart understandings” about the Law. The overt action may be murder, but in the heart and the mouth is where it begins. Anger, insults, and degrading name calling is just the beginning. Jesus said these are just as worthy of judgment as the final act of murder.

HIS followers are to go and reconcile with the offended person before doing anything else. Only then can the law “clean” us to worship our holy God. He warned if we don’t come to terms with the other fellow (or gal), things will get very, very bad.

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Matthew 5:27-30.

As before, Jesus first calls their attention to the Law. “You have heard that it was said…” reminding them of the 8th commandment. (Exodus 20:14) “You shall not commit adultery.”

That’s pretty clear.

But once again, Jesus tells them, that this gross sin begins inside of us with the eyes and the mind (imagination). Inside, where no one else can see or condemn… except God.

“But I say to you… everyone who LOOKS at a woman (or man) (and this could also include pornography) with LUSTFUL INTENT has already committed adultery in his heart.”

A look, an imagining of sexual delight…or violence…and the sin is committed. The thought, the continual contemplating and adding to the scenario, is as the deed. Wow. And the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. Yes, you know it. Eventually the deed WILL be done, or at least attempted (with that person, or another one).

How serious does Jesus take this?

VERY!

He says if you find yourself looking with lustful delight, causing you to sin … gouge out your eye!!!

Now that is serious!

(And, if it keeps happening with the other eye, I think He might say, gouge that one out too!) What is being blind compared to being separated from the Holy God?

SIN IS SERIOUS. It is an affront to God. ESPECIALLY for a believer, a follower of Jesus.

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.“ 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

Jesus carries the remedy further with, “And if your right (dominant) hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to lose your members than your whole body … and go into hell.”

I believe Jesus could also mean by your ‘right hand’, that you are to eliminate every sinful deed you are prone to do or accomplish. It’s not just a leud man patting or pinching a woman’s bottom at the office. The “right” or dominate hand represents your strength. Cut it off if it causes you to sin!

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Matthew 5:31-32.

“It was also said,” (Jesus continues) “whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.”

God gave this provision to Israel for the welfare of women.

Husbands who no longer wanted their wives – for some little thing they did or didn’t do, or because the man had lusted after another, younger, prettier woman – could just kick them out to manage on their own. Often their father would not accept them back into the family house, and without resources, they would eventually die or become a prostitute.

To save them from this, Moses required unhappy husbands to write their wives a certificate of divorce. That way, she could legally become the wife of another man. It was a concession, and NOT God’s perfect plan. But it rescued the unwanted wives.

But notice Jesus’s heart-understanding of this concession. “But I say to you, that every man who divorces his wife – except on the ground of sexual immorality – makes her commit adultery.” (either by prostitution or marrying another man while still married to the unhappy one). A man was not to simply “divorce” his wife for every little thing that bothered him, or even something big. Reconciliation is always the first step.

It’s God’s way. After man sinned in the garden of Eden, God could have thrown us away and created a new world. But no, He provided a way (Jesus’ death) that we could be reconciled to Him.

Our Lord is so kind. For women (or men) today, this means that if divorce occurs because of unreconciled unfaithfulness (the first option is always to seek reconciliation, as with the first of Jesus’ saying about someone offending you), the divorced one is free to marry again.

It’s NOT God’s perfect way. There will be complications with possessions, finances, and the children (who are often hurt most). But God’s heart of love, SO loves His children, that He allows this, though I believe every divorce grieves Him.

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.Do you wonder, like me, how the people on the hillside received Jesus’ words. Were they confused, perplexed? Did the more learned of them go back in their minds to see the Torah’s writing, and nod at this new wisdom? Was there fear, or joy, in their heart? Did they now long for the kingdom of heaven this Jesus was preaching?

Or was that first stirring of disappointment rising. Reconciling? Sexual purity? What did that have to do with the Messiah freeing them from Rome?

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.(NOTE: for those who read my closing thought yesterday, yes I did go to my husband, confess my offense, and ask forgiveness. And he gladly, quickly, forgave me. What a relief! And my prayers to God came so much easier afterward! Thank You, Jesus. Your heart-teaching is what we need every day.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/24): Matthew 5:17-26.

Sep24

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

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REVIEW – True disciples of Jesus are “salt” and “light” to the world. Our manner of life, our “attitudes,” and our testimonies should cause others to thirst for Jesus. And by not hiding our faith, either in the world or in our families, we can show others how to find Him.

It’s not that His followers SHOULD BE salt and light; we ARE salt and light. So let’s allow Him to shake us out of our comfort zones, remove our timidness and fears, and change us into bold witnesses for Him.

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Matthew 5:17-20.

The Law.

Does Jesus teach “the Law”?

Now that the Messiah has come, do we ignore the Law?

What was/is the purpose of the law then, and now?

Right off, Jesus makes one thing clear to His listeners. He has NOT come to abolish (get rid of, or nullify) the Law.

Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law. Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one ‘jot or tittle’ will pass from the Law until ALL is accomplished.”

NOTE: Jots and tittles were the tiny marks that made up the Hebrew letters (like the dots over the i’s and j’s, and the crossing of the t’s in English).

Jesus fulfilled the “moral law” by keeping it perfectly.

Jesus fulfilled the “ceremonial law” by being everything the types and symbols pointed to.

And Jesus fulfilled the “judicial law” by exhibiting God’s perfect justice and ‘paying the wages’ of OUR sin on the cross.

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“Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be called ‘least’ in the kingdom…” and “…whoever does and teaches them will be called ‘great’…”

Don’t ignore God’s law: obey it humbly, and teach it rightly.

And then that shocker!

‘Unless YOUR righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The people saw and heard the religious leaders brag about keeping the last speck of the law (no, going over and beyond it!), and how they paraded their good deeds before all the ‘lesser’ people, even thanking God that THEY were not like those nobodies. How could anyone keep the law better than they?

Jesus saw right through the Pharisees’ shiny facade to the filth and defilement (pride, greed, hate) in their hearts. He would later call them out, comparing them to ‘whitewashed tombs’. No, the people of HIS kingdom were to exhibit true righteousness, which comes from acknowledgment of sin and godly repentance.

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Matthew 5:21-26.

‘You have heard that it was said…”

And now Jesus begins a section of “explaining” the heart and truth of the Law – those parts of God’s word that the Pharisees didn’t “get.” He begins the next six sections in Matthew five with these or similar words, then gives the text from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

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“…You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” (Exodus 20:13)

Then, Jesus goes deeper into God’s law, revealing the heart attitudes that come BEFORE the act of murder.

“But I say to you that everyone who is ANGRY with his brother… whoever INSULTS his brother… whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to judgment, and… even the hell of fire.

WOW! Why?

Because those are “murder” in your heart and mouth. It just hasn’t come out in actions.

How often have I been angry with a loved one, insulted them, or called them offensive names!!! Jesus says these are worthy of judgment as much as murder. HIS kingdom is one of meekness, mercy, purity of heart, and a desire to reconcile with others. THIS is the heart of God behind the law.

So what is Jesus’ resolution to these angry attitudes towards others?

Don’t keep on going like nothing is wrong while you seethe inside (or perhaps plot violence!).

Jesus says to “reconcile with your brother and quickly come to terms with your accuser,” and only THEN can you come before Him with a “pure heart” and make your offerings. He will accept them now.

And you won’t end up in the hangman’s noose or in prison with a life sentence.

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(Oh, boy, has this smacked me in the face! I was recently very angry with my husband. I insulted him and called him a fool, in so many words. It has weighed heavily on my conscience. THIS is NOT how I must live in Jesus’ kingdom. Today, when he returns from work, I will apologize, ask for his forgiveness, and reconcile with him. And THEN I will go to my Heavenly Father and do the same.)

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/23): Matthew 5:13-16.

Sep23

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13.

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REVIEW – The “beatitudes” began Jesus’ well-known Sermon on the Mount. Here He was speaking to His disciples or followers. He’d taken a break from the “healing” side of His ministry and began teaching those seeking His kingdom. Jesus taught the attitudes found in His disciples’ lives. All the attitudes, of course, are mirrored in HIM.

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Matthew 5:13.

“You are the salt of the earth.” How are believers, followers of Christ, the “salt” of the earth? Consider what salt does.

We first think of the flavor that salt adds to our food. Veggies and meats seem “bland” without it. We even sprinkle salt crystals on desserts! People on salt-free or low-salt diets can testify to this aspect! Salt enhances our appetite. It can also make us thirsty and send us to the faucet (or water bottle).

How can our lives glorify God and make people hungry/thirsty for the gospel?

In Bible times (and today), people used salt to preserve food. Salted fish was a staple in people’s diets. Preserved in salt, fish could be kept for those times when the nets were empty. Today, non-Jews eat salt-preserved meats like ham and lunch meats. Some veggies are preserved in brine too.

Christians can sometimes preserve or delay judgment on a nation or a town. Think of how Abraham interceded with God over the wicked city of Sodom. If there were ten righteous people in it, God told Abraham He would not destroy it. Sadly, only one was righteous: Lot lived there, and you know how that ended.

How can our lives and bold testimonies help to preserve our nation or family?

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One other aspect of salt is that it can cauterize a wound and promote healing.

Our lives lived for the Lord Jesus alone can sometimes lead us to hurting, injured people. Our words – even spoken in love, but truthfully – can often cause more pain. But it’s temporary if the person repents and turns to Jesus.

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“But if the salt has lost its savor…” Now, in reality, salt cannot lose its saltiness.

But in the area around the Dead Sea where a lot of salt was mined, the heavy mineral content could leach into the condiment, making it bitter. If that happened, they threw the useless “salt” out into the roadways. It would at least kill weeds. In snowy parts of the world, it is used to melt snow and ice on roadways and help to prevent accidents.

(Father, keep me pleasing to the “taste” of those around me, and help my life and testimony to draw others to seek You.)

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Matthew 5:14-16.

“You are the light of the world.”

Just as Jesus is “the Light of the world,” so should His disciples be. He clearly taught people the way to the kingdom. His “light” revealed His sinless life as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. His light revealed the “way” to the Father – by believing in His death to pay for our sin, and His resurrection to give us hope.

Our words and lives should do the same … show others the Way.

Notice that in these verses there are two kinds and two places for the light.

The first: “A city set on a hill.” Now, a city in the woods may be hard to find, but not one at the top of a hill. Anyone can see it. And if that city is full of light, it is visible for miles, even (or especially) in the darkness.

This should be us and our testimony. Not hidden, but an open testimony of what Jesus has done for us, shining out to the world around us.

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The second: “A lamp in a house.” Jesus tells us that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket or bowl. What would be the point? No, we put a candle on a lampstand, a mantle, or in the center of the table, so it lights the whole room. Likewise, in our homes and families, and even in our occupations, no one should be unaware of our salvation.

If not by words of testimony, at least by the “attitudes” we live by and the good works we do for His sake. These too will glorify God.

As we do not hide a little clay lamp under a bowl, we should not hide the glorious truth that Jesus has saved us from our sin, the wrath of God, and has promised us an eternity with Him.

What light! Let it shine out! Surely our families will want to learn about it and come to Jesus too!

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/22): Matthew 5:1-12.

Sep22

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And He opened His mouth and taught them.” Matthew 5:2

NOTE: I’m sorry this is late to post. My Internet was down for most of the day.

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REVIEW – Last time, we saw an overview of Jesus’ beginning ministry. He was teaching, preaching, and healing all who came to Him – huge masses of hurting, needy people from all over the area. He taught in synagogues, in the streets, from boats, and on hillsides. He offered hope for healing and health. He also offered hope of heaven. How many saw that? How many received it?

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Matthew 5:1-2.

“Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain…”

Perhaps Jesus wanted to escape the masses who only sought relief from their pain and discomfort. Maybe He wanted to speak more closely to those who heard Him talk of heaven and a kingdom beyond the here and now, and wanted more.

“…and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.”

“To see a rabbi “sit down” meant that He was about to teach. Our teachers usually stand in front of a class, but Jewish teachers sat. “Students” would then gather around Him to listen, and possibly ask questions. For Jesus, this was like a “Closed until 2:00pm” sign on the doctor’s office door. He would “see” patients later.

There were many “followers” (disciples, if you will) at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Most were superficial, and we’ll see Jesus eliminate the insincere with probing questions (See Luke 14 and Mark 10) and later with His “hard teachings”. (See John 6)

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Matthew 5:3-10.

We know this section as the “Beatitudes.” (The be-attitudes; the attitudes for Christians to have and exhibit.) I had to memorize them as a child in Sunday School. I even learned how to sing them. But how well do I know them as Jesus meant? How many of them do others (or Jesus) see in my life?

“Blessed are…” The word means “happy, fortunate, blissful.” Jesus was describing the “well-being” that belongs only to the faithful. This is entirely different from the world’s happiness, which comes (fleetingly) from riches, fame, power, and leisure, etc.

Jesus shows us eight (or nine) of these things that cause blessedness for believers, but which totally boggle the minds of unbelievers.

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“…the poor in spirit,” Humility, spiritual bankruptcy. To be ‘poor in spirit’ means to be acutely aware that you are lost and hopeless apart from God’s grace. THIS is how we first come to Jesus, acknowledging our sin and helplessness to save ourselves, looking to Him as the only way to salvation and eternal life. “…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Yep, that’s the way to get in!)

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“…those who mourn,” This is the “godly sorrow” a true seeker of God experiences. It’s a real sorrow that leads to repentance without regret. (2 Corinthians 7:10) When a fresh believer is on their knees (or face) before God, weeping over past sins, they will soon sense true forgiveness flooding their soul. “…for they shall be comforted.”

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“…the meek,” This is not weakness or timidity, but gentleness and Spirit-empowered self-control. Jesus claimed that HE was gentle (meek) and lowly in heart (See Matthew 11:29), and yet He made a whip and drove out merchants and moneychangers from the Temple.

(Take a few minutes here to read Psalm 37:1-11. It describes how to become a “meek” believer.) Yes, the Lord will give you the desires of your heart, because your heart is His. “…they shall inherit the earth.” And the Psalms passage adds, “…and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

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“…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This means seeking God and HIS righteousness, and NOT trying to be good or do good things in our own strength (which is impossible anyway for more than a few minutes). Self-righteousness was the main problem of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. They thought they needed nothing but their own knowledge and willpower to stand righteous before God.

Remember the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? WHO was the one righteous in God’s sight? Not the one who bragged of all his good deeds, but the one in his poverty, confessed his sin and begged for mercy. Jesus said, HE went away “justified” or “righteous” in God’s sight. I know his heart was filled with joy as he rose from his knees and went home. “…for they shall be satisfied.”

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“…the merciful.” These are the people who consistantly give others “a second chance,” who “give others the benefit of the doubt,” and who, by remembering the rich mercy with which God loved and saved them… easily and generously give it to others. James 2:13 tells us that “judgment is without mercy for those who show no mercy.” So lets direct our hearts always to the tender mercies we received and can give out. “…for they shall receive mercy.”

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“…the pure in heart.” Wow, this certainly can’t be accomplished in our own strength. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?” Jesus taught that all the wicked things that come out of our mouths originate in our hearts. PURE in heart? Who can do it? No one. Only Christ. He has promised that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” (1John1:9) Praise God.

“…for they shall see God. And truly, THESE are the only ones who will SEE God.

Revelation 22:3-4 says, “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it (New Jerusalem), and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face... “

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“…the peacemakers.” We know who these rare people are. They are filled with the “wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. They sow peace and receive a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17-18). These are those who love their enemies and pray for them. And “…they shall be called sons of God.” Why? Because Jesus, God’s Son, made peace between His Father and us by His blood on the cross.

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“…those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.” Whoa, that doesn’t sound right. This is not persecution because we are fools or sinners or do stupid things. The persecution here is for Christ’s sake, because we are one of His, because His life and light show out from us to a dark world. Those in darkness do NOT like light and try to extinguish it. We may be martyred, but Jesus promises we will be with Him in glory. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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And then, it’s as though Jesus turns from those sitting all around Him on that hillside, and looks straight out at US. You and me.

And He says, “Blessed are YOU when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ON MY ACCOUNT. Rejoice and be glad, for YOUR reward is in heaven…”

He repeats the previous beatitude, making it personal to us. Then it seems He speaks to US as well as to the crowd of followers around Him.

“…for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Believers who love and follow Jesus, we are in good company! And one day we will stand with those prophets we read about in the Old Testament and receive the rewards Jesus spoke of. AND… a crown of life.

Persevere!

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/21): Matthew 4:23-25.

Sep21

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching… and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…. and healing…” Matthew 4:24.

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REVIEW – Jesus called four men – Peter and Andrew, James and John – to leave their boats, nets, and fishing occupation to follow Him and become “fishers of men.” They did not hesitate.

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.Matthew 4:23.

Jesus’ ministry begins almost as a whirlwind throughout all Galilee. He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom on hillsides and at every opportunity, and He healed every disease and affliction among the people.

WOW.

Each sabbath in the synagogues, a certain passage from the Law, Prophets, or Psalms was read and taught. When Jesus attended, He taught them with authority rather than quoting the opinions of Rabbis or traditions. The people were amazed. (See Matthew 7:28-29)

Jesus would also proclaim the kingdom of heaven: that God was near, that people should repent and turn to Him, and live a life of humility, mercy, service, and sacrifice (see the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ to follow).

Jesus “healed EVERY disease and affliction among the people.” This was not only a show of mercy, but it confirmed His claim to be the Messiah. (See Isaiah verses below.)

Isaiah 35:5-6 says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”

And Isaiah 29:18-19. “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.“

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Matthew 4:24.

“So His fame spread throughout all Syria.”

Whoa, I had to look this up. On most maps, Syria is a huge country north and east of Israel. Nowhere in the gospels does it say Jesus went there. (Yes, He did visit a Syro-Phoenician woman near coastal Tyre & Sidon to heal her sick daughter.) So, how did the people of “Syria” hear and bring Jesus their sick?

On a map that shows the territories of the Herods during Jesus’ early years, we see that Herod Philip ruled north of Galilee, Herod Antipas ruled Galilee, and Archelaus, then the Roman governors, ruled Judea and Idumea (south). But right in the middle, at the bottom edge of the Sea of Galilee and below, across the Jordan River, there was a section granted by Caesar Augustus to “the Province of Syria.” And also a small section over near the Mediterranean Sea by Mount Carmel.

Huh! Well, God’s word is never wrong. History and archaeology just take time to catch up.

And notice there was no limit to Jesus’ compassion and power. “They brought Him ALL the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL.”

(NOTE: Some say that by the time Jesus went to the cross, there was no sickness or disease at all in Israel. Quite a thought. If so, that would be quite a preview of the Millennial Kingdom!)

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Matthew 4:25.

Was it because of Jesus’ healings that the “great crowds” of people from all the areas around Galilee, down to Judea and Jerusalem, and even across the Jordan River flocked to Him?

Masses of people came, hobbling, being led, or bringing loved ones who needed to be carried (or corralled). They clogged the streets, pressing, pulling, and pressuring Jesus from all sides.

Did none come to hear his life-giving words?

Did none stay to sit at His feet, listen, and believe what He said?

Some.

A few.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/18): Matthew 4:18-22.

Sep18

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:20

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REVIEW – After hearing that John had been arrested by Herod, Jesus left Judea and returned to the area of Galilee, which fulfilled two prophecies in Isaiah. Jesus WAS that “great Light” that “had begun shining” and “had dawned in a region and shadow of death.” There, Jesus began His ministry, preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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Matthew 4:18-20.

Jesus was now living in Capernaum, at the Sea of Galilee. It was time to begin calling and choosing the men who would follow Him, learn from Him, and one day preach the Gospel of His life, death, and resurrection to the world.

It began on a normal, sunny workday down at the docks. As Jesus walked by the Sea, He saw two brothers casting their nets into the water, trying to catch fish – Simon Peter and Andrew. These were men chosen from before the foundation of the world to be among the first ambassadors for the Messiah.

Jesus raised an arm in greeting and called, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Wow.

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Matthew 4:21-22.

Going a bit farther, Jesus saw two more brothers, the sons of Zebedee, whom He would later name “the sons of thunder” for their hot tempers and demands for justice. James and John were mending some of their nets along with their father – a very boring but needful job. Again Jesus hailed them with the same invitation.

And immediately THEY left their boat and their father and followed Him. Jesus now had four fishermen whom He would train over the next three years to “catch” and bring men into His kingdom.

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Did you wonder with me how these men, busy with the tasks they had done for years to support their families, could just get up, walk away from it all, and follow Jesus?

What did Zebedee think? (Hey! Where are you going? What about these nets!) And Andrew and Peter’s hired hands, did they simply carry on without the two brothers? Did they all wonder WHO in the world was this guy, who, like a Pied Piper, had called and evoked such immediate responses?

Let’s take a step back to the reading of John’s gospel. These men had encountered Jesus before. Andrew, and perhaps Peter, were followers of John the Baptist. They left John to follow Jesus for a time, then returned to Capernaum. Now Jesus was calling them to long-term discipleship.

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(NOTE: This is certainly a clear lesson for me. Have I left all to follow Jesus? No, I’m not a missionary or an evangelist to leave my home and husband and travel the country or the world. But have I left the things in MY life that would keep me from wholehearted service and obedience to my Lord?

Busyness, crafts & hobbies, lunches and ‘coffee’ meetings, and adult learning or exercise classes at the YMCA; do these come first? Do I let gardening or reading that novel keep me from time in His Word and prayer, seeking His will for my life? Oh, that I would put Jesus on the throne of my life, and “immediately leave all to follow Him.”)