Christmas Hope!

Purpose:  To show us that the only sure hope we have in this life is in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

• We Hope in Jesus Because Angels Worshipped Him!

Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 2:8-14

• We Hope in Jesus Because Kings Worshipped Him!

Matthew 2:1-12

Psalm 2:1-12

Phil. 2:9-11 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NASB)

• We Hope in Jesus Because Shepherds Worshipped Him!

Luke 2:15-20

 "A man should not teach his son to be . . . a herdsman . . . for their craft is the craft of

robbers." (Mishnah: Kiddushin 4:14)

See Luke 4:18 quoting Isaiah 61

• We Hope in Jesus Because He is the Hope of the Nations!

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram,

         "Go forth from your country,

         And from your relatives

         And from your father's house,

         To the land which I will show you;

2       And I will make you a great nation,

         And I will bless you,

         And make your name great;

         And so you shall be a blessing;

3       And I will bless those who bless you,

         And the one who curses you I will curse.

         And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

Romans 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become aa father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."

Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

A Christmas Poem by Christopher Smart:

Where is this stupendous stranger?                O the magnitude of weakness,

Prophets, shepherds, kings, advise;                If eternal is so young.

Lead me to my Master's manger,                   God all-bounteous, all creative,

Show me where my Savior lies.                     Whom no ills from good dissuade,

                                                                        Is incarnate, and a native

O most mighty, O most holy,                         Of the very world He made.

Far beyond the seraph's thought,

Art thou then so mean and lowly

As unheeded prophets taught?

Only God Can Forgive

Matthew 9

Purpose: Jesus is the God Who forgives, bringing with Him the New Covenant!

• Jesus Heals and FORGIVES the Paralytic

Matthew 9:1 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.

2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 "Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up, and walk'? 6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" "” then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." 7 And he got up and went home. 8 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

            Jesus Has Authority to Forgive because He is God!

What is your reaction? Like the scribes or the awestruck crowds who glorified God?

• Jesus Calls Sinners to "Follow Me!"

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.

10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 "But go and learn what this means: "I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

            FULFILLMENT of Hosea 6:6

• Jesus the Bridegroom and New Wineskins

Matthew 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 "But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17 "Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."

Jesus is the Bridegroom

Are you one of the new wineskins?

• Miracles Revealing the Power of Jesus

Matthew 9:18 While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." 19 Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples.

Matthew 9:20 And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21 for she was saying to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will get well." 22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." At once the woman was made well.

Matthew 9:23 When Jesus came into the official's house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24 He said, "Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep." And they began laughing at Him. 25 But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 This news spread throughout all that land.

Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: "See that no one knows about this!" 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.

Matthew 9:32 As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him. 33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees were saying, "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."      

            Jesus raises a synagogue official's daughter from the dead (vv. 18-19, 23-26)

Jesus heals a woman from a 12-year hemorrhage (vv. 22-22)

            Jesus makes two blind men see (vv. 27-31)

            Jesus casts out a demon from the mute man (vv. 32-34)

• The King's Teaching and Heart for the People

Matthew 9:35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Jesus the King's Methodology = through all the cities and villages, teaching,

proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing (v. 35)            

            Jesus the King's Heart = He felt compassion on the shepherdless people (v. 36)

            Jesus the King's Cry = Pray the Lord of the harvest to send workers! (vv. 37-38)

The Power of King Jesus

Matthew 8

Purpose: When you follow Jesus, you follow the Creator God and Sovereign Lord

• Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."

Matthew 8:1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

         Jesus Has Power to Cleanse So that You Too May Worship Him

         Jesus Cleanses a Leper

• Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." 7 Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, "Go!' and he goes, and to another, "Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this!' and he does it." 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very 3moment.

Jesus Has Power to Heal Anyone, Gentile or Jew, Who Believes in Him

Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant

Jesus compares the Gentile's true faith with the lack of Israel's faith

            Believing Gentiles are in the Kingdom of Heaven

                        Note the Old Testament Covenant language with Kingdom language (v. 11)

• "He touched her hand, and the fever left her"

Matthew 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. 16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."

            Jesus Has Power to Heal the Ill and Demon-Possessed

FULFILLMENT of Isaiah 53:4

• But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." 20 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 21 Another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead."  8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" 26 He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

Jesus has power over creation because He is Creator!

            Jesus tells a scribe that He has no place to lay His head (vv. 19-20)

            Jesus tells a disciple to follow Him and leave his family (vv. 21-22)

            Jesus calms the storm and calls the disciples "men of little faith" (vv. 23-27)

Creation Obeys Jesus Better Than His Followers

Begs us to answer the question for ourselves! Who is this Jesus?

The call of discipleship: Will you follow Jesus Christ?

• "Go!"

Matthew 8:28 When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" 30 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. 31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, "If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine." 32 And He said to them, "Go!" And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. 33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.

Jesus Has Power Over Demons

            Jesus calls Himself "Son of Man" (8:20, see Dan. 7:13),

"¦but the demons call Him "Son of God" (8:29)

            The people of the area implore Jesus to leave!

Conclusion:

What's your response to Jesus's who power over demons and creation to cleanse and heal?

How do you answer the question, "Who is this?"

Are you more like those who have experienced Jesus's healing?

"¦ Or those with Jesus in the boat? "¦ Or those of the city who push Jesus away?

When you follow Jesus, you follow the Creator God and Sovereign Lord!

Few Find the Way

Matthew 7:13-29

Purpose: The way to heave is a narrow path, are you on it?

• Jesus the King on the Right v. the Wrong Way

         Matthew 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. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.     

         Matthew 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Matthew 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. 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.

Matthew 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. 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."

Find the Only Way to Life (vv. 13-14)

Wide Gate = Destruction = Many Go the Wrong Way

Narrow Gate = Life = Few Find It!

Flee From False Prophets (vv. 15-20)

"You will know them by their fruits" (vv. 16, 20)

            Frauds Forbidden in the Kingdom of Heaven (vv. 21-23) 

                        FULFILLMENT of Psalm 6:8

            Follow The Right Way (vv. 24-25)

House built on the Rock = Obedience After Hearing

            Forsake The Wrong Way (vv. 26-27)

House built on Sand = Disobedience After Hearing

• Jesus Teaches With Kingdom Authority

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

Conclusion:

This is all about true Christian Discipleship

Which path are you on?

Your path will definitely lead you to your destination!

Kingdom Eyes

Matthew 7:1-12

Purpose: Jesus teaches us how to see with eyes of His Kingdom

• Go Through Elective Eye Surgery!

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Remove the log from your own eye first!

Only then will you see clearly, i.e., Jesus teaches on Righteous Judgment

• Ask the Father For Your Needs!

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

         Jesus on Petitioning the Father for His Benevolence

         In context, your needs are to be sought from the Father, not in comparison to others

• The Golden Rule: Treat Others As You Want to Be Treated!

Matthew 7:12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

            Because the Father takes care of you (v. 11), you are free to love, not judge, others

            The golden rule "is the Law and the Prophets" (v. 12)

            This is how Christians fulfill the Law and Prophets, by living as Jesus taught

            This is the bookend verse to Matthew 5:17, 20, and Jesus' Sermon Theme

Conclusion:

Do you see how "removing the log" is a mirror image to "treat people the same way you want them to treat you"? The first process is necessary to achieve the second.

True Riches in Heaven

Matthew 6:19-34

Purpose: How to store up treasures in heaven!

• Choose Your Master (Matthew 6:19-24)

Matthew 6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 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! 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.

            True Riches "treasure" are stored up in heaven, not on earth!

No one can serve both God and money! (v. 24).

Where are you storing up your treasures?

It's about your heart, your eye, and your priorities (vv.21-24, 33)

• Prioritize Your Life (Matthew 6:25-34)

Matthew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

"For this reason" = precisely because no one can serve both God and money (v. 24)

Do not worry about the things that your Father knows you need!

Trust God's Provision, but that's not the priority! His provision is not the treasure!

Prioritize! Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness!

What are Kingdom-First Christians like?

Fulfilling God's will, more righteous than the Pharisees (Matthew 5:17, 20)

Gospel-Centered & Jesus-Centered

Followers of Jesus & Fishers of Men (Matthew 4:19)

Who Make Disciples of All Nations (Matthew 28:18-20)

True Righteousness and Riches According to Jesus

Matthew 6:1-18

Purpose: To seek the reward from God, not men, by living truly righteous lives

• The Principle: True Righteousness Seeks Reward from God, Not Men!

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

         This is Jesus Christ's Key Kingdom Principle (FULFILLMENT; Matthew 5:17, 20)

• God Rewards Secret Giving

Matthew 6:2 "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

         True Righteousness in Giving (FULFILLMENT; Matthew 5:17, 20)

         How NOT to Give v. How TO Give

• God Rewards Secret Prayer

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

Matthew 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way:

         "Our Father who is in heaven,

         Hallowed be Your name.

10     "Your kingdom come.

         Your will be done,

         On earth as it is in heaven.

11     "Give us this day 1our daily bread.

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

13     "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

         [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.']

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

         True Righteousness in Prayer (FULFILLMENT; Matthew 5:17, 20)

         How NOT to Pray v. How TO Pray

         The "Lord's Prayer"

         Interdependent forgiveness

• God Rewards Secret Fasting

Matthew 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. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

True Righteousness in Fasting (FULFILLMENT; Matthew 5:17, 20)

            How NOT to Fast v. How TO Fast

Conclusion Concerning Christ's Reward:

True Righteousness is rewarded by God (Matthew 5:17, 20 then Matthew 6:1, 4, 6, & 18). When religion is used to serve one's self in pride or reputation, then that person's reward will be from men and not from God (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). This theme of righteousness, reward, and treasures, is the spiritual theme for the rest of the chapter. We need not worry or be anxious when our hope and trust are in the Provider Himself (Matthew 6:25-34).

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

[1] Unless otherwise specified, all Bible references in this paper are to the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (NASB) (La Habra: Foundation Publications, 1995).

Jesus' True Teaching of the Law

Matthew 5:21-48

Purpose: We are called to live in Jesus Christ's will for our lives!

This is Jesus the King's Exposition of the Law and God's intentions for how we live it out.

Because Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets (5:17), if we live believing in Jesus and His teachings, we also then fulfill God's true intent for the Law and the Prophets in our own lives (7:12). King Jesus affirms His absolute authority in fulfilling the Law and the Prophets with His consistent use of the pattern, "you have heard that it was said"¦" followed by, "but I say" for each of the issues while teaching His followers the true intent of God's will for their lives.

• Jesus Christ's Call Above Murder

Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and "Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, "You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, "You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent."

The call above Murder is both:

- not to hate

- and to do what makes for peace

This is the true intent of Exodus 20:13 in the 10 Commandments

True v. False Worship involves your relationship with God and others

• Jesus Christ's Call Above Adultery

Matthew 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell."

The call above Adultery is both:

- not to lust in the heart

- and to remove from your life the things that cause the sin

This is the true intent of Exodus 20:14 in the 10 Commandments

• Jesus Christ's Call Above Divorce

Matthew 5:31 "It was said, "WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE'; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.          

The call above Divorce is to remain faithful to your covenant of marriage instituted

by God

This is the true intent of Genesis 2:24, see also Matthew 19:1-12

• Jesus Christ's Call Above Vows

Matthew 5:33 "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, "YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' 34 "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36 "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 "But let your statement be, "Yes, yes' or "No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."

The call above Vows is to be true in all speech because anything beyond this is evil

This is the true intent of Leviticus 19:12

• Jesus Christ's Call Above Vengeance

Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, "AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."

            The call above Vengeance to non-resistance & service

            This is a the true intent of Exodus 21:24

• Jesus Christ's Call above Partiality

Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The call above Partiality is to Love your Neighbor and your Enemy

This is the true intent of Leviticus 19:18

            Thus you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect