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“YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID"

Thesis: To enable the hearer to tie the additions and changes which the Jews made concerning the Law of Moses to the changes and additions which the traditions of men make today concerning the Law of Christ, and to see where our Lord puts the emphasis concerning such.

Text: Matt 5:17-20, (21-48)

Mat 5:17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Introduction,

1. We are continuing to look at what is commonly referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt ch 5-7).

2. In this particular section we see our Lord dealing with the oral traditions of the scribes and Pharisees.

3. They changed God's very laws by addition, subtraction, and misapplication, thus making them of little or no account, oftentimes even promoting sin.

4. Thus our Lord sets them straight concerning these traditions, and basically clarifies the Law of Moses to them in all its purity, and shows them how it was to be based on selflessness, and to be performed from the heart, being motivated by love.

5. It is a strange thing, for even today, we see the very same thing occurring, even though our Lord explicitly taught against such (Mt 15:3b, 6b, 9) . . .

Mat 15:3b Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Mat 15:6b And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

Mat 15:9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

6. Today we have differing religious groups making additions, subtractions, and misapplications concerning the Law of Christ, that perfect Law of liberty, and thereby making it of little or no account, and also oftentimes even promoting sin instead of holiness.

7. Let us not forget the words of Jesus in what we refer to as the great commission in Mt 28:20a . . .

Mat 28:20a teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you

a. And that would include the Sermon on the Mount, for this was commanded (taught) to His disciples (Mt 5:1-2).

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: Mat 5:2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

8. Thus we will look at the Lord’s teachings here from 2 perspectives . . .

1) “Ye have heard that it was said” (the Law modified by the doctrines of men)

2) “But I say unto you” (the commands of God)

I. (Mt 5:21-26) THE LAW CONCERNING ENMITY (hatred or ill will)

A. (v 21)

Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

This law was clearly stated in the Scriptures (“Thou shalt not kill;” Ex 20:13), and the one who murdered must be put to death (Ex 21:12; Num 35:20-21).

1. But their traditions (“ye have heard it was said”) softened this law and added “whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment” which refers to a human tribunal (a court of law) which gave many circumstances in which the guilty party would avoid the punishment due them according to the Law, thus weakening its effect upon others, for a swift and just penalty is a very strong deterrent to those contemplating crime, but a long and drawn out trial does nothing but promote such wickedness, as it is written (Eccl 8:11) . . .

Ecc 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

2. The same could be said today, if one guilty of murder was put to death within a very short period (say no more than a week), that certainly would put fear into those who contemplate taking away God’s gift of life from others, for God certainly approves of the death penalty (Gen 9:6).

Gen 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

B. (v 22)

Mat 5:22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

The phrase “but I say unto you” is our Lord asserting His authority as Deity, setting the Law of Moses back where it belonged, and simultaneously bringing forth that perfect Law of liberty (Ja 1:25), the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2), which would go into effect after His death (Heb 9:16-17).

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

1. He states that a person’s anger should be crime enough to bring a person before a legal tribunal, and if that anger manifests its self in outward words to another they should be brought before the Sanhedrin (which is likened unto our supreme court), and if those words are ones that condemn another to hell, they shall be in danger of hell themselves (Gal 6:7).

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

2. We are all at times going to get angry, but we must learn to control anger, not let anger control us, God angered numerous times against His people, Christ angered (Mk 3:5), yet they did not sin, neither ought we (Eph 4:26-27; Ja 1:19-20).

Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Eph 4:27 neither give place to the devil.

Jam 1:19 Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Jam 1:20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

3. And we need to be very careful of the words we speak, for we will give account of them on the Day of Judgment, the Lord stated in (Mt 12:36-37)

Mat 12:36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

C. (v 23-26)

Mat 5:23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, Mat 5:24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.

It is better to be reconciled with a person than to let your inward man have the spirit of enmity (ill will), and considering the briefness of human life this should be done quickly, or one may find himself sentenced to eternity in the fires of hell.

1. We need to make sure that we are not holding on to unforgiven sins, the alien sinner needs to hear, believe and obey the gospel to attain forgiveness, and the erring Christian needs to go to the heavenly Father in earnest repentance and prayer for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9), for all worship that the unforgiven attempts to offer up the God is unacceptable until that sin is first dealt with (Isa 59:1-2; 1 Pet 3:12).

Isa 59:1 Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: Isa 59:2 but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.

2. Also today in the church we hardly ever see the exercising of church discipline when it is due, we hear phrases such as “we need to be patient in this matter” or “we need to show love concerning this situation,” all the while time is ticking by, this brother may die in his sins, and said congregation is being disobedient to the Lord’s commands in (Mt 18:15-17).

3. Just like the law concerning murder, its swift carrying out of punishment was not only to bring about justice, but also to manifest fear in others in order that they may sin not, the same is taught concerning church discipline as seen in 1 Tim 5:20.

1Ti 5:20 Them that sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

4. Thus the congregation that lets adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, covetous men who are idolaters, ect, go unpunished according to God’s laws concerning church discipline, and even at times giving them leading roles in the congregation (while they are in fact separated from God), have righteousness that does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and they shall no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (v 20).

II. (Mt 5:27-32) THE LAW CONCERNING ADULTERY

A. (v 27)

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

This is a quote from Ex 20:14, it seems to be perfect, yet the phrase “ye have heard that it was said” implies that there was a problem with the way they explained this command.

1. What they were teaching was that “adultery” was “only” that of lying (having sexual relations) with another individual’s spouse, skip down to verse 31 . . .

B. (v 31)

Mat 5:31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

They were also teaching that one could divorce for any number of trivial reasons, they would merely have to make up the paperwork; this is very similar to what we see today, people divorce their spouses because of selfishness, “they” don’t love their husbands or wives anymore anymore, “they” want to move on to greener grass, “they” have decided that “they” want to pursue and career at the cost of someone else, “they” are not being taking care of as “they” expected from “their” husbands or wives, while the Law of Christ teaches that older women are to . . . (Tit 2:4)

Tit 2:4 . . . train (teach) the young women to love their husbands . . .

1. This implies that some may have not loved their husbands as they ought, thus they needed to be taught such, this was likely due to the fact that many marriages were set up by the fathers of the virgins; marriages may not be set up like they were in that day, but the principle still applies, a married couple is to endure hardships between themselves and grow in love towards each other as time goes on, for Christ commanded (Mt 19:6b).

Mat 19:6 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

C. (v 32)

Mat 5:32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

“But I say unto you” shows our Lord straightened them out concerning this matter, stating that only for the cause of “fornication” (illicit intercourse) was a divorce legal, and thus the husbands who divorced their wives for trivial reasons were causing these women to become adulteresses with their next husband if they remarried (for they are still someone else’s wife in the sight of God), and those marrying these women were also guilty of adultery (for they are still someone else’s wife). We could apply this to the man in like manner, but under the Law of Moses women were not allowed to divorce their husbands.

1. Many modern bible versions have incorrectly inserted the words “sexual immorality” for the good and proper translation of “fornication.”

2. “Sexual immorality” is much too wide and subjective a term for the original word here, so that anything that has immoral sexual connotations could be considered a lawful excuse for divorce; The word here is “porneia” (where we derive our word “pornography”). Thayer defines it as . . .

1) Illicit sexual intercourse

1a) Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.

1b) Sexual intercourse with close relatives;

1c) Sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman.

3. These are the only reasons of which one may get a divorce today that is approved of God.

4. And if that’s not the case, they are in a sense still married in the eyes of God, and if they remarry they are continually committing (committeth) adultery with their unscriptural spouse, and this sin does not cease until that unscriptural marriage is ended, then the parties are merely guilty of the past sin of putting asunder what God hath joined (My 19:6), they are not continuing in that sin, (look back at v 28)

D. (v 28-30)

Mat 5:28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.

“But I say unto you” The Lord took them to the root of the false interpretations and violations of these laws.

1. The look of lust must not be made, it is the first step leading to spiritual death (Ja 1:14-15).

Jam 1:14 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Jam 1:15 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.

2. In fact a person should not do anything that might draw one’s self close to sin.

a. The ex-drunkard should in no wise put himself close to a bar, walk through the alcohol section of a store; the ex-fornicator should not look at immodestly dressed women, any where or any way but rather look the other way; and the person lent to covetousness should keep his eyes on his own possessions, not always shopping for bigger and better, but rather being content and thankful unto God for that which he has.

b. Whatever it takes to stay away from these temptations, those steps must be taken, better that, than to burn in a devil’s hell.

3. Yet today we see “keeping up with the Joneses,” social drinking, gambling, immodest dress, sensual dancing, mixed swimming and unscriptural marriages all being accepted to some extent among the Lord’s people today, they may accept them, but the Lord does not!

a. The congregation and individuals therein that promote, and do not teach the truth concerning such, has righteousness that does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and they shall no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (v 20), only those that are holy unto God (Heb 12:14), in all aspects of their lives (1 Pet 1:15), will see His face (Rev 22:4), only they will make it to heaven.

III. (Mt 5:33-37) THE LAW CONCERNING OATHS

A. (v 33)

Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Here again we see almost a direct quote from Num 30:2, but the phrase “ye have heard that it was said” implies that there was some problem with the way they explained this command.

B. (v 34-36)

Mat 5:34 but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; Mat 5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

“But I say unto you” again refers to Christ rightly dividing the Law of Moses and proclaiming His Law to come (Mt 28:20), and here He also explains the problem.

1. The only oath allowed under the Law was that by the name of God (Deut 6:13), which we see both our Lord (Mt 26:63-64), and Paul partook of (2 Cor 1:23).

a. Yet the Jews of that day would swear upon things other than the Almighty in order to make their words seem more important (the sin of vain glory; sinful pride), and if they didn’t keep them, they thought they would not be condemned.

b. These oaths were lawlessness to start out with, yet they were obliged to keep them none the less, for God created all these things they had swore upon.

C. (v 37)

Mat 5:37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

The point being made here is that they should keep their word, it should be binding enough, an oath should not be needed.

1. The frivolous, untruthful, empty, falsehoods the you constantly hear spewing out of the mouths of those of the world, is not acceptable for the true follower of Christ, there is no such thing as an acceptable (or white) lie, the Christian’s word is to be binding, even if unto death, for “all unrepentant liars” are committed to the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).

2. And when one attempts to lift themselves up before men, by words or whatever means, that is merely Satan working through them in the avenue of “the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) and it could cost one their soul, for haughtiness (as in a haughty look) is at the top of the list of the things Jehovah hates the most turn to (Pro 6:16-19) . . .

Pro 6:16 There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: Pro 6:17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; Pro 6:18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, Pro 6:19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

a. Second on that list is a lying tongue, these two sins (self pride and lying) are equal to God as one that would shed innocent blood, and this is not just an OT law we see that murderers and liars are coupled together in both the New and Old Testaments turn to (Rev 21:8).

Rev 21:8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

3. The Christian is to be painstakingly truthful, humble, lowly, meek, having a servant attitude towards all, realizing that they, and all they have, are the work of God (John 3:27; 19:11; 1 Cor 4:7; Ja 1:17), and that if they demonstrate this attitude “He (God) will lift them up” (Ja 4:10).

4. The congregations and individuals that practice, promote, and do not teach the truth concerning these matters, have righteousness that does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and they shall no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (v 20).

IV. (Mt 5:38-42) THE LAW CONCERNING RETALIATION (vengeance)

A. (v 38)

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Again we have our phrase “ye have heard that it was said” concerning a quote from Lev 24:20, we must consider that there was a problem here also, or the Lord would not have brought it up.

B. (v 39-42)

Mat 5:39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Mat 5:40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

We can infer the problem here just by what the Lord said, Lev 24:20 (v 38) was concerning the punishment that was to be meted out concerning judicial proceedings (civil court; Deut 19:17-21), but the Jews had taken this over into the personal realm, in order to justify private retaliation, which it was not meant to be, thus they took the passage out of its context and misapplied it, making it contradict other Scripture, vengeance is God's alone (Deut 32:35), and He does it through specifically appointed agents.

1. The same is true today (turn to Rom 12:17-13:7)

Rom 12:17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Rom 12:20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers (governing authorities): for there is no power (authorities) but of God; and the powers (authorities) that be are ordained of God. Rom 13:2 Therefore he that resisteth the power (authority), withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power(authority)? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: Rom 13:4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Rom 13:6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. Rom 13:7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

2. This passage (Rom 12:17-13:7) teaches us that we are not to take the law in our own hands, God has appointed the governments and legal authorities to this task, we rather are to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21), not with a punch in the face, both Jesus and Paul were struck in the face, and wrongly so, yet did not retaliate physically (John 18:23; Acts 23:2; 1 Pet 2:21-23).

1Pe 2:21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1Pe 2:22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1Pe 2:23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

a. God is attempting to teach us to commit ourselves unto Him, instead of relying on the arm of flesh, trusting in God, even if it costs us our physical lives.

b. Many were called upon to give up their lives in the first few centuries after the establishing of the church, rather than tossing a pinch of incense in a small fire (this construed emperor worship), this is what is spoken of in Rev 2:10.

Rev 2:10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

c. What about those that tossed that pinch of incense, what was their lot in eternity? (Rev 14:9-12).

Rev 14:9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, Rev 14:10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: Rev 14:11 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

3. Considering the misapplication of taking the law into one’s hands, there are a lot of misapplications of this nature, within the church.

a. We see the many false doctrines built upon this type of misapplication, from no eating in the church building (of which there were none in the 1st century, they met in member's houses; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 2, God’s prohibition concerning eating in 1 Cor 11:34 is a command not to mix a common meal with the observance of the Lord’s supper), to the belief that obedience to the gospel makes a unscriptural marriage righteous in the sight of God (misapplying 2 Cor 5:17 where it talks about one becoming a new creature, one that is born anew, and somehow attempting to make that state that an unscriptural marriage is now somehow become not sinful when one obeys the gospel).

b. And throughout Christendom we see everything from faith only salvation (which can't be harmonized with scripture; Rom 1:5; 16:26; Ja 2:17, 24, 26), to a priesthood separate and apart from the believers (all Christians are saints; 1 Cor 1:2 and all Christians are priests 1 Pet 2:5, 9).

c. We must handle aright, rightly divide God’s word (2 Tim 2:15), in this process we must take the sum, the totality of God’s word to ascertain truth (Ps 119:160), and if we run into contradiction, we need to rethink our beliefs, for they must not be correct for the bible is in complete harmony, it indeed has a sum (Ps 119:160).

d. We cannot build a doctrine, and then look in the bible to uphold it (by misapplying a portion of scripture out of context), the bible alone, in its totality, is the doctrine, and it alone will be our judge on the Last Day (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12).

4. Instead of retaliation, the Jews should have been bending over backwards in order to let Jehovah’s light shine through them, in order that others would be drawn to God, obey, and be saved, as seen in (Pro 25:21-22, turn there).

Pro 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Pro 25:22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.

a. The same can be said for us today, we are to heap the coals of good (love) upon others instead of the coals of retaliation (Rom 12:19-21).

b. The congregations and individuals that do not teach and practice the truth concerning such, and misapply scriptures to form doctrines God has not commanded, have righteousness that does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and they shall no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (v 20).

V. (Mt 5:43-48) THE LAW CONCERNING LOVE (of fellow man)

A. (v 43)

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: No where in the OT were they Jews taught to hate their enemies, but through their traditions they taught this.

1. They were to be executioners for God concerning certain nations, what they did was in obedience to God’s commands, not as an act of personal vengeance.

a. Even though God's had some nations destroyed, he took no pleasure in it (Ezek 18:23; 2 Pet 3:9).

Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

b. Verses such as these should have been the mindset of the Jews, it must also be ours.

c. Those who are in the faith, and attempt to be soldiers or police officers also need to keep these types of verses in mind, for there are no commands forbidding such occupations.

d. But it will certainly be difficult for the Christian soldier to convert one to Christ whom he had killed on the battlefield, as the Christian police officer will have difficulty teaching the plan of salvation to one whom he had to exert deadly force upon, thus we can see the difficulties involved with the Christian holding such occupations, therefore it is probably best if Christians let the dead bury the dead, and spend more time focused on the things above (Col 2:12; 3:1-4) . . .

Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead . . . Col 3:1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. Col 3:3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

B. (v 44)

Mat 5:44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;

Again “But I say unto you,” here is what the totality of God’s word teaches, praying for those at enmity with God and His people and showing outward love for them (the word translated “love” here is “agapao” – “to love in a social or moral sense, to do good towards them in order to effectuate their ultimate good”), this may have brought more into the fold, more like Rahab, a former harlot, who is mentioned 2 times in the NT for cause of her faith.

1. We also need to pray for those in the world, that are at enmity with God (Ja 4:4), prayer combined with our approaching them with the Gospel, that is the prayer of faith, one that demonstrates itself along with actions, in order that all the more might be saved, which is in alignment with God’s will (1 Tim 2:4).

1Ti 2:4 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

C. (v 45)

Mat 5:45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

God has also blessed those who were outside the covenantal relationship with Him, except when He was bringing judgment upon certain nations, He did not withhold any physical blessings from the Jew nor the Greek, with the hope that His goodness shown therein may draw some to Him.

1. We likewise need to do good to all (Gal 6:10), even those in friendship with the world, who are the enemies of God (Ja 4:4), letting our good works shine forth (Mt 5:16) to them, holding forth the word of life (Phili 2:16a), the gospel, that power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16).

D. (v 46-47)

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

If we do not pray and act as God, we are just like those without God, and without hope (Eph 2:12), and we likewise will be without hope, we will be that one talent man, unprofitable and cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth (Mt 25:30).

1. We need to be kind to sinners, we need to greet them, help them, teach them, perhaps they will see the love of Christ through us and come to the glorious light of the gospel unto eternal life.

2. The congregation and individuals therein that do not teach and practice the truth concerning such, have righteousness that does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and they shall no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (v 20).

E. (v 48)

Mat 5:48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

But if we do love, pray and approach the enemies of God, some will be the good ground (Luke 8:15), those with the good and honest hearts, which when hearing God’s word in truth, will believe and obey it from the heart unto the life eternal (1 Pet 1:22-23)

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 1Pe 1:23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

1. Then will we be complete, perfected in our faith working through love (Gal 5:6), as our Father in heaven is perfect working though His love.

Conclusion,

1. “Ye have heard that it was said” (the doctrines of men) are everywhere, throughout the multitude of religions in Christendom, denominational and non-denomninational.

2. Many have formulated these beliefs in creed books, prayer books, catechisms, and manuals of discipline, and in their own minds, just as the Jews formulated their traditions in the form of the Talmud.

3. The reason is, they do not believe that God in His infinite wisdom made His word clear enough, in others words, “ye have heard it said” “it doesn’t mean that.”

4. “But I say unto you” “yes it does” the Bible is clear, understandable (Eph 3:4), it gives one simple message, it is to be believed, and obeyed from the heart unto the life eternal.

5. One must . . .

Hear the word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17);

Believe that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 8:37; John 8:24);

Repent of their sins, and determine to follow God (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5);

Confess Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9);

Be baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27; Rom 6:3) unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16);

And live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15) that exceeds that of the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, even if it cost you your physical life (Rev 2:10); and those that don’t shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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Evangelist - Kenneth Windbiel
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kensanwind@centurytel.net

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 Salute the church that is in their house . . .
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