Monthly Archives: December 2011

RE Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day six)  “not the smallest letter. . .will by any means disappear. . .until everything is accomplished.” (vs 18)  I hear hope in the words of Christ!  I hear a deep confidence that God’s plan for the world will ultimately be accomplished.  It will take time, but Jesus is CERTAIN that a race of [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day five) ”Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court” (vs 25) Followers of Christ are often conflict avoidant.  We dislike conflict so much that we don’t deal with it.  Not honestly.  Not fairly. Not with a will to settle the matter.  The sad truth?  By avoiding it we prolong it.  Righteousness to [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew  5:17-48 (day four)  “First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (vs 24)  Jesus is teaching the Law.  He is thinking about the 6th Commandment (murder).  He insists that God’s original (eventual) intent was to forbid hatred, contempt and malice.  His illustration is provocative.  A man is presenting an offering [...]

RE Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day three)  A great help for reading and interpreting the Sermon on the Mount is to ask yourself, “What kind of world is Jesus describing?”  What would it be like if people were moral/good/loving not because they were forced to do so by the Law?  What if an inner change made us  walk [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day two) “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (vs 19)  Jesus is answering His critics.  They have noticed His flexibility with Sabbath, His different views on the temple and concluded that He is “abolishing the Law”.  [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day one)  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (vs 17)  The Old Testament was the Bible that Jesus read.  It was “a light on his path, a lamp for his feet”. (Psalm [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:1-16 (day seven)  The wise men worshipped Jesus as the new-born King of Israel. (Merry Christmas!)  What experiences should we expect who do the same?  We should expect to experience humility (poor in spirit).  With small resources, we will have a daily, desperate need for God.  We will experience grief (mourn).  We will face honestly the reality of our sins and [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:1-16 (day six)  “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . .blessed are those who mourn.  (vs 3,4,)  At a doctor’s appointment yesterday, I was attended by a young tech who had the word “Blessed” tattooed on his skin.  I asked him about it and he told me his story.  His happy gratitude is the foundation of [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:1-16 (day five)  “Jesus did not say ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ because they are poor in spirit. . .He was not making poverty or mourning a meritorious condition”  (Dallas Willard)  Some teach Jesus’ words with this interpretation.  They propose a new legalism, a new way to be blessed by God.  If not a “salvation [...]

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 5:1-16 (day four)  “If the salt loses its saltiness. . .it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” (vs 13)  It was a compelling illustration.  Convicting even today.  While salt (NaCl) can never lose its chemical properties,” blocks of salt” did so all the [...]