Sermons

Introduction

Tonight our lesson will take a different form. Paul instructed Timothy, “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching” (1 Ti. 4:13). Tonight, I plan to “give attention to the reading.” First allow me to set the scene…

Our nation is oppressed by the government and ruled by foreign power. Soldiers abuse their power with violence and theft. The lives of government leaders are filled with immorality and scandal.

Our religious leaders are also corrupt. They put on such a show of spirituality with their fine clothes, lofty prayers and strict ritualistic behavior. Yet they too love power and praise. It all seems so shallow – so superficial – so empty – so dry – so hollow. But they are the teachers of God’s will – if they aren’t right who can be? There must be more to serving God, but what?

Finally, you go out to the middle of nowhere because you’ve been hearing about a new preacher named John. He has gathered quite a following, baptizing people by the hundreds. He doesn't act like the other teachers, he doesn't dress like the other teachers, but most importantly he doesn't teach like the other teachers. His message: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – finally some substance, depth and energy. He rebuked us for our sins; He warned of God’s coming judgment; He spoke of one greater than him coming next.

John is eventually arrested because of his preaching, but a new preacher takes his place. He is a carpenter from nowheresville, with no formal training; his name is Jesus. He too teaches with substance and depth. His message too: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." God must be at work in him – he has incredible power to heal every kind of disease and sickness. Hundreds if not thousands from all over have come to him for healing. 

One day as he sees the large crowds, he turns away and walks up the hillside. You too begin to follow; and you realize many of the crowds are following behind you as well. He sits down where all can see and hear…

“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:”

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

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

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me. 

1. Rejoice and be glad:
   • For your reward is great in heaven.
   • And in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth:

1. But if salt has lost its taste, can it be made salty again?
2. It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

You are the light of the world:

1. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
2. Nor does anyone light a lamp and hide it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
3. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets:

1. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them.
2. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest detail will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
3. Therefore whoever relaxes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
4. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of these teachers and religious leaders, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 

1. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
2. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and
   • First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 
3. Come to terms quickly with your accuser when you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard and you be put in
   • Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

1. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
2. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it
   • For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
3. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it
   • For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

1. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’

1. But I say to you, do not take an oath at all:
   • Either by heaven for it is the throne of God
   • Or by the earth, for it is his footstool
   • Or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King
2. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
3. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’
4. Anything more than this comes from evil.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

1. But I say to you, do not resist an evil person.
2. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
3. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
4. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
5. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

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

1. 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.
2. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
3. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even extortioners do the same?
4. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than anyone else? Does not even the world do the same?
5. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people so that you may be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

So when you give to the needy:

1. Do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the church buildings and in public, so that others may praise them.
2. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.
4. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray:

1. You must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the church buildings and in public, so that others may see them.
2. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
4. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5. Do not heap up empty phrases as the pagans do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
6. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
7. Pray then like this:
   • Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
   • For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
   • But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses 

And when you fast:

1. Do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so others may see their fasting.
2. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.
4. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

1. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
2. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body:

1. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
2. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of
3. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

No one can serve two masters:

1. For either he will hate the one and love the other.
2. Or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
3. You cannot serve God and material possessions.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious:

1. About your life – what you will eat or what you will drink.
2. Nor about your body – what you will put on.
3. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
4. Look at the birds of the air:
   • They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
   • Are you not more valuable than birds?
   • And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life? 
5. And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field – how they grow:
   • They neither toil, nor spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these.
   • But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is burned up, will he not much more clothe you? – O you of little faith!
6. Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
   • For the world seeks after all these things.
   • And your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
7. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
8. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow:
   • For tomorrow will take care of itself.
   • Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do not judge so that you will not be judged:

1. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
2. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
3. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
4. You hypocrite!
5. First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

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

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

1. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
2. Or which one of you, if your son asks you for bread, will you give him a rock?
3. Or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a snake?
4. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Therefore in everything, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the law and the prophets – this is the whole bible.

Enter by the narrow gate:

1. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter by it.
2. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Beware of false prophets:

1. Who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
2. You will recognize them by their fruits.
   • Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
   • So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
   • A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
   • Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3. So you will recognize them by their fruits.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

1. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
2. And then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock:

1. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house.
2. But it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

1. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house.
2. And it fell, and great was its fall.