Sermon on the Mount - in depth

[B-A-C]

Matt 6:11; 'Give us this day our daily bread.

This is taken a a number of different ways also.
Some simply take this to mean provision. Like saying, "make sure I have food today".
But if it is provision, it could mean more than food, also shelter and clothing.

Others take it to mean... "the Word", Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4; John 6:33-35;
As in "give us your Word" today God.

Finally, Jesus said He was the bread, John 6:35; John 6:41; John 6:51; etc...
Also whenever communion is take, it is considered that the "bread" is Jesus body that was sacrificed.
Some take this to mean, "give me the conscience to remember and realize what Jesus did for me".

Some take this a step further and go to the point of almost asking God for the opportunity to sacrifice something
(giving up cookies, or alcohol, or giving money to charity for example). This is sometimes called being saved by works.
Yet many of them don't believe these actions "save" them. They are simply the things we should sacrifice as part
of our walk.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 6:12; 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Its seems an "odd" thing to ask for forgiveness, only as we forgive others.
Some Bible says forgive our iniquities, some Bibles say forgive our sins, but most use debts. Our sin is of course a debt owed.
The debt of sin is death. But this was paid for by someone else. At least the forgiven sins are.
Are all sins forgiven? The answer to that question is the subject of quite a few debates here on TJ.

Some believe your past and future sins are forgiven at salvation.
The majority of Christian believe only your past sins are forgiven and you still need to ask for forgiveness for news ones occasionally.
Some even believe that once you become a Christian, you can no longer sin.

In any case... back to the forgiveness thing. "as we forgive others". That's a hard thing to say.
That's a harder thing to do. Do we always forgive others? Always? If I'm honest, I have to say it isn't always easy.
Sometimes it doesn't happen immediately. Sometimes it takes me a while "to get over it". (which is really me getting over "myself")
But we need to forgive others. How we are forgiven depends on how we forgive others.

I'm skipping verse 13 here.. (I promise I will get back to it)

Matt 6:14; "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matt 6:15; "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matt 18:34; "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
Matt 18:35; "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Mark 11:25; "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.
Mark 11:26; ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

Luke 11:4; 'And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

As I said earlier... we are forgiven as we forgive others.

 

[RJ]

The majority of Christian believe only your past sins are forgiven and you still need to ask for forgiveness for news ones occasionally.

Hmmm?...

• Well, you believe it is the majority?
  
• I also, don't get the "occasionally". If you are going to go to God and ask for forgiveness for new ones, what good does it do to ask "occasionally"?
• If you are required to ask God for forgiveness for new sins, is that not "works" and a part of an ongoing legal system held over from the Mosaic Law?

If you are accurate, I confess I must be in the minority:

1. God said: James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Would not having to keep up with every sin, even "occasionally", in order to maintain forgiveness, wouldn't that be a requirement and basically still being under the "Law" again?
2. If "occasionally" is the way it is, I would agree like this: Jesus died on the cross one time for all and all sin. Being "born again", having Christ in you, you posses a repentant heart. This means you hate sin and like Paul in Romans 7, you don't like it when you do what you don't want to do. And, as often as you can, you have very repentant view when you due sin, but you know that God has forgiven you and you thank him for what he has already provided.

 

[B-A-C]

Repentance is not being sorry. Repentance is being sorry enough to stop doing it. Sometimes this takes a while.
There are some sins we always struggle with, but they shouldn't be controlling us. We should be controlling them.

If you are accurate, I confess I must be in the minority:

1. God said: James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Would not having to keep up with every sin, even "occasionally", in order to maintain forgiveness, wouldn't that be a requirement and basically still being under the "Law" again?

Threads like this usually say something someone disagrees with.
The largest Protestant Christian denominations (Assemblies of God, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Virtually all evangelical churches, and
every Pentecostal church that I'm aware of) do not believe in future tense salvation, such as once saved always saved, and forgiveness
for future sins. However the largest Christian denomination in the US (Baptists) do.

Having said all of that, whether a denomination or belief is in the majority has really nothing to do with being wrong or right.
Otherwise we would all be Roman Catholics and Muslims. ( The two largest religions).

The majority of denominations above believe that we "ARE" still under the law. We simply are not under the penalty of the law.
Jesus doesn't replace the law. He fulfills it when we fail. And as you mentioned above in James 2, if we break any of it, we are
just as guilty as if we broke all of it.

Rom 6:14; For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Rom 6:15; What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Rom 6:16; Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Verse 15 is not taken as ... "shall we sin, because we no longer bound to the commandments" but rather
"shall we sin, because we no longer under the penalty of death".
Righteousness and salvation do not come through the law, but that doesn't mean the law isn't in effect.
It only means certain people will not be condemned to the death they deserve. (If the law wasn't in effect, they
wouldn't deserve to be judged and cast into the lake of fire).

 

[RJ]

Repentance is being sorry enough to stop doing it. Sometimes this takes a while.
There are some sins we always struggle with, but they shouldn't be controlling us. We should be controlling them.

I couldn't agree more, we no longer willfully sin.
Yes Jesus did not come to abolish the law but fulfill the law.
Have you ever thought how he accomplishes fulfilling the Law?

 

[B-A-C]

I said I would get back to Matt 6:13; which I skipped over earlier.

This verse is currently being discussed in another thread, there was more I was going to say there, but
since I'm here....

Why would we ask God not to lead us into temptation?
Does God ever lead us to temptation?

Well God doesn't tempt us... James 1:13;
When we are tempted, there is always a way out, we never "have" to sin... 1 Cor 10:13;

Tempted sometimes means tested... there are verses that say Israel tempted God.
This doesn't mean they tempted Him to sin, but rather, they tested His patience.
( Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:56; Psalms 106:14; etc... )

It appears that while God doesn't tempt and test us, He does allow us to be tempted and tested.
Even as Christians we are tempted and tested.
Jesus was tempted... (was He a Christian?) ... Matt 4:1; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2;

Galatians 6:1; says we can be tempted. ( James 1:14; )
Jesus told Peter that Satan demanded to to test him, (some Bible say sift).
If you read the story of Job, it was God Himself who invited Satan to test Job.

Why would God allow us to be tempted? Because it reveals the condition of our heart.
Do we have a sinful heart? Or have we died to self and allowed presence of God/Holy Spirit
to enter us and change our heart?

Does God ever "lead us into temptation". I believe He does. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into
the wilderness to be tempted by the devil ( Matt 4:1; )
Jesus was indeed tempted just as we are. Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15;

James 1:2-4; speaks to why we sometimes go through trials and testing.
1 Peter 1:6-7; even says the reason we go through trials is "so that the proof of your faith"....
"may be found"..."at the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Heb 11:37; talks about the saints who were persecuted and "tempted" in order to receive a better resurrection.
It seems there are rewards for going through trails and passing test.
2 Cor 2:9; 2 Cor 13:5-6;

But even there though there are benefits and rewards for being tested, I still think it's
OK to ask God to "lead us not into temptation".

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 6:16; “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they 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.
Matt 6:17; But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face
Matt 6:18; 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.

Fasting sometimes seems to be a lost art. Some people still practice fasting from time to time, but it seems less and less do it over the years. Some people link fasting with works, (all works aren't bad).
Fasting can be about anything. Some people fast food, others only certain kinds of food.
They may do a meat fast, or a sugar fast. Others do material fasts, like going without television, or their
cell phone for a week. Whatever it is, it should be something difficult that doesn't come easily for you.

Whatever it is that we are fasting, food or something else, it should be done in an indiscreet manor.
People around you shouldn't even notice that you are doing it. If you are doing it for show, then that's
the wrong reason, your heart isn't in the right place, and you already "have your reward in full".

Fasting is not the same thing as lent, although they sometimes overlap. Lent is also usually giving
up something desirable for a period of time, but it's for for a slightly different reason.
Lent is usually practiced by more liturgical churches (ritualistic) from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday
(for a period of about 6 weeks or so) in preparation for Easter.

One is more for cleansing purposes, the other is more for discipline purposes.
If you haven't fasted recently, I would recommend it, but pray about it first, make an agreement with
God about it, agree with Him on what it should be that you are giving up for a time. Then stick
to it for the agreed upon time.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

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

Matt 6:22; “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Matt 6:23; But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Matt 6:24; “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 wealth.

This is an interesting passage of scripture.
Whatever we are hoarding here on earth for ourselves is not eternal... once we step over the other side
of death, nothing we have or had here on earth is ours anymore. Nothing, not even our wives and family.
Not money, real estate, jobs, friends... nothing. So why do this? It seeems to be a part of human nature.
We have to have "stuff". But why? It seems some people find security in having "stuff".
There is nothing wrong with having stuff, but something the "stuff" has us!! Our lives revolve
around accumulating things, working more and more to get more things. Neglecting family and even God so we can get "things". We have 4 cars, 3 television sets, 3 game consoles, 2 boats, 3 motorcycles, 4 sno-mobiles, an RV trailer,
and two jet ski's.

Now I have some of those things, they aren't necessarily bad, but they are bad when things take control of us.
Where your treasure is... there your heart is. Where is your heart?
Where do you spend most of your time, money and effort? Is it in ministry and God's kingdom, or is it
for something else?

Verses 22 and 23 just seem to be thrown in there and un-related, but I think they are related to the others.
The eye is what we see things with, and what we look for things with. What are you looking for?
The kingdom of God and Jesus, or for worldly material things?
What looks good to you? Ministry and serving God, or buying more clothes, video games, and DVDs?

We can't serve God and the world at the same time. We have to love one and hate the other.
Which one do you love? (the answer cannot be both).

 

[Ellie]

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

The word for gentle here is praus ... mild, meek, humble.

I think in today's society... many of us have forgotten what it is to be gentle, or meek, or humble.
It's all about me. Me first, me the most, me the foremost... then everything and everyone else.
When we drive, we need to make sure we are ahead of everyone else, when we buy things, we need
to make sure our stuff is newer and better than our neighbors.

We have forgotten how to be gentle. Even the wording used in some of the forums here on TJ
is anything but gentle. Sometimes it is rash and harsh, sometimes emotions enter in and there
is anger because we are offended. So we offend others...


I like this one... makes me not feel to naive or bad for being gentle. I used to hate being that way, but now that I am with Jesus...I see it as just another part of him and am glad that He gave me this. One question though, is what do you think when it says they shall inherit the earth?...

 

[B-A-C]

One question though, is what do you think when it says they shall inherit the earth?...

I've heard this preached a number of different ways.
However... the one thing is, they still need to be saved first. They still need Jesus.
Without Jesus, it doesn't matter how gentle you are. These people will not inherit the earth.

But to answer your question, it seems the saved will have different roles and responsibilities.
Some believe not everyone goes to heaven.

Some will rule and reign with Christ on the earth. ( 2 Tim 2:1; Rev 5:10; Rev 20:6; etc.. )
Some will always be in the temple. ( Rev 3:12; Rev 7:15; etc... )
Some will inherit the earth ( Matt 5:5; )
Some will inherit the kingdom of God ( Matt 25:34; Acts 20:32; etc... )
Some will be able to enter the New Jerusalem ( Rev 21:27; etc.. )

...some will NOT inherit the kingdom of God... ( 1 Cor 6:9-10; 1 Cor 15:50; Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5; etc... )

So it seems some will be in heaven, some will be in the new Jerusalem, some will be in the temple,
and some will be on the earth. (of course some will be in the lake of fire).

Not everyone agrees with this, but it is a thought.

 

[B-A-C]

We made it through chapters 5 and 6.

Matthew 7 starts off with Jesus talking about judging others.

The first verse starts of... Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.

A lot of people stop there, and don't read the next 4 verses. They are good at quoting that
first verse. But verse 2 goes on to say... we will be judged in the same way we judge others.

Verses 3 through 5 talk about hypocritical judging. Make sure you aren't doing the things that
you are judging others for. But verse 5 says... once you have taken the "log" out of your own
eye, ... "then" ... you can see clearly how to help your brother take the "speck" out of his eye.

We are pretty good at seeing other peoples shortcoming and sins. But very few of us (if any) are
really very good at seeing our own shortcomings and sins. The thing is, if we have particular sins
in our life... what business do we have judging others for the doing the same things we are doing?
Isn't that a definition of a hypocrite?

Matt 7:6; "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.

This is a difficult verse, and has been interpreted differently over the years.
Some take it to mean don't take the sacred bread and wine ( passover/communion ) and give it to the un-saved.
This could mean don't allow the un-saved to partake in communion. Some churches go so far as to say...
Don't allow those living in sin to partake of communion. "living in sin" is a phrase not used by some churches
and Christians. We all sin sometimes... sometimes we can hide our sins ( from people at least, if not God )
but some don't hide their sins, they are openly living in fornication, or openly living in homosexuality.
Should we invite those in for communion?

Pearls were likely more rare and costly than even diamonds and gold in the time of Jesus.
When you have something spiritually valuable, we should hold onto it. This is the opposite
of holding onto (hoarding?) earthly things of value.

Giving these things away to people who do not appreciate it , they will just trample it under their feet.
There have been times in my life, I have tried to give godly advice to unsaved people.
They usually give me a funny look, maybe even a little "hah" under their breath. and they go on
doing the things, that they came to ask me help with in the first place.

Some people take offense at this verse... saying it is name calling. ( some people are swine, others are dogs )
But I have always taken it as some people are like certain animals.... they reason like animals, they value
like animals. If I say you are "mule-headed"... you can take that as I am calling you a mule... but really I am
saying you are stubborn.

The last part of this verse has also applied to me at certain times in the past.
I have given people godly advice or spiritual discernment, and they have turned on me.
I told one guy he should discipline his children ( always a very touchy subject ) and he threatened
to sue me, and turn me into the child welfare dept.

Sometimes the dogs will turn on you and tear you to pieces.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 7:7; “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matt 7:8; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matt 7:9; Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Matt 7:10; Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
Matt 7:11; 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!
Matt 7:12; “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This is a sequence of actions... it seems most of the time in the Bible, that God uses people to make things happen.
In this case we are told to... ask, seek, and knock. Sometimes the reason nothing is happening in our walk is because
we aren't out there "walking", we're just sitting on the spiritual couch so to speak.
God give us good things. Not necessarily the things we want, but always what we need. ( Father knows best ).

In verse 12, we have the well known "Golden rule". Which basically says treat other people the way you want to be treated.
If you're doing this... you're obeying the law.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Immediately after Jesus mentions the law, and the prophets... He mentions the wide and narrow gates.

Matt 7:13; “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.
Matt 7:14; For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

This often quoted passage seems to indicate that most people will not be saved.
"Many" will follow the path that leads to destruction... through the wide (easy to follow) gate.
"Few" will follow the path that leads to life... through the narrow (more difficult) gate.

There are some people who are not even looking for the gate to life.
Many do not believe in heaven, hell, eternal life, eternal damnation, or even in the concept of sin.
But there are some who are looking, but they are looking in the wrong places.

In Luke 13.. someone asks Jesus... will just a few be saved? This is His answer...

Luke 13:23; And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them,
Luke 13:24; “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:25; Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
Luke 13:26; Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’;
Luke 13:27; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’
Luke 13:28; In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Again Jesus talks about the narrow gate...
But in this passage He also says "many" will seek to enter it, but will not be able to. ( verse 24 )
Some people are not looking for the gate... others are... but even these people will not find the way to enter.
There are people who think they know Jesus... but they really don't.
They will say to Him on that day... "we ate and drink with you, we listened to your teachings"... ( verse 26 )
and He will tell them He doesn't know them or even where they are from.... depart from me you evildoers.
They will go to the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus because do things in the presence of Jesus... just because you listen to his teachings (or what some
churches claim are His teachings ) does not make you saved.

The other thing about this passage, is that once the door is shut. It's shut.
There is no second chance after death. Some churches teach this, but it is a false doctrine.
Once you die, the door will not be opened a second time to you.
There is no salvation after death.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 7:15; “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matt 7:16; You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
Matt 7:17; So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matt 7:18; A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Matt 7:19; Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt 7:20; So then, you will know them by their fruits.

False prophets... false teachers...
What is a prophet? Someone who claims to have a message from God. There are many who claim to be messengers,
yet few of them agree on what God's message really is.
Ravenous wolves... most likely some of these people do not know they are wolves. Yet, the message they are
giving to people is killing them, ravaging their souls.

Whenever the phrase "know them by their fruits" is used. Some people immediately go to Galatians 5
and compare the fruit of the Spirit to the fruit of the flesh. This is a good thing to do... however these are not
the only fruits people can show. The teachings someone gives can be a fruit. The kind of people they produce
can be a fruit. There are some religions in the world that have moral people, yet they believe in a false god,
some of them even believe in a false Christ. Moral behavior isn't the only fruit we should be looking for.

Yes moral behavior is important. But so is the word. Does what they teach line up with the word?
If not... it's bad fruit. Are they teaching people to hate others? Are they teaching that personal gain is
the primary benefit of Christianity? Are they teaching that God will not judge those who refuse to repent?
If so... this is bad fruit.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 7:21; “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.
Matt 7:22; 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 miracles?’
Matt 7:23; And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

This controversial passage, is probably the most discussed area in the Bible here on TJ, at least in the last 6 months or so.
There has been much debate about whether these people were ever saved in the first place or not.
But in any case, not everyone who think's they know Jesus is known by Him.
Even those who prophesied, did miracles, and cast out demons in His name.

The open question here is... what is different about these people from you?
One hint may be... "you who practice lawlessness".
This goes along with 1 Jn 2:3-4;
By this.... " we know that we have come to know Him".
The one who says they know Him, but doesn't do this... is a liar and the truth is not in him.

Do you know Jesus? Does He know you?
Will He declare He never knew you?

There is another debate about whether the power to do these miracles came from Jesus.
Some say we are the branches and Jesus is the vine and we can do nothing without Him.
Did these people get this power from Jesus? Did they have the Holy Spirit?
Casting out demons, prophesying, and doing miracles are gifts of the Spirit.
If so... then having the Holy Spirit is no guarantee that you are saved.

... only five more verses to go. Next.. the two foundations.

 

[B-A-C]

Jesus ends the sermon on the mount with these verses.

Matt 7:24; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matt 7:25; And the rain fell, and the 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.
Matt 7:26; Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Matt 7:27; The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

These verses are talking the storms and trials of life. There will be many I assure you.
But when the storms come... are you ready? Where is your foundation?
Is it on the sand.... or is it on the rock? Jesus Himself is our rock, but these verses are talking something else.
It talks about those who hears His words (or has heard His words) and does one of two things.
Either you act in accordance with them, or you don't. Doing nothing is the same thing as ignoring them.
Those who act on His words have their foundation on the rock. Those who do not act on His words have
their foundation on the sand.... and their fall will be great ( verse 27 )

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

Even today people are amazed by these teachings. Many say these teachings don't apply anymore.
But if they don't... then we are all sitting on top of the sand, not a good place to be when the rains come.

He was teaching as one having authority... all authority has been given to Him.
Jesus doesn't just know the word... He is the word. He isn't just one who copies what someone said.
He is the one who said it.

There are people and churches that try to divide what Paul taught from what Jesus taught.
I personally believe they were teaching the same thing. But some say Jesus was teaching things
for the "old way" (old testament) and Paul was teaching for the "new way" (new testament).
But Jesus "IS" the way. ( John 14:6; )
But even if Paul was teaching a different way than Jesus... Jesus would be the one in authority.
Paul was just teaching what He was taught by Jesus.

I am amazed some churches do not preach the sermon on the mount at all. In fact, some do not
preach the teachings of Jesus at all. Only the teachings of Paul. Why is this?
(One church I visited a while back doesn't teach anything except Paul, not even Peter, James and John).
I wonder if they are on the rock, or on the sand?