THE MISUNDERSTOOD ART OF FASTING”

From the “SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16-18).

If you were ever to visit quaint little (under 8 thousand residents) Norwich, NY, you would immediately be drawn to the little red caboose in the business section on East Main Street, not very far from our local post office. For decades this caboose housed “Millie’s Diner”, with Millie herself as its chef! The food was good (serving breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday), and the company even greater.

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. One of my privileges back then was to go to Millie’s each day just before noon to find out what the day’s special was for the employees at City Hall, located just across the street from the restaurant. That day I relayed to the front office folks that “Today’s special at Millie’s is chicken and biscuits.” Immediately I was told, “LEAVE RIGHT AWAY! Don’t you remember that this is the first day of the office diet?”.

FASTING. Today we would simply interpret that as “not eating for a certain season.” But what did it mean in Jesus’ day? Why was it so important to include in His valuable Sermon on the Mount? There are at least 3 good definitions of “to fast”:

1. To be without food or hungry; to suffer hunger

2. The temporary refraining from food for religious purposes

3. To be empty

Remember definitions #2 and #3, as they will be quite helpful in this study!

TOO FAST OR NOT TOO FAST Now THAT’s funny, especially to a car driver! Let’s try again.

TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST Funny how two added “o’s change the entire intent! How was this an important part of Jesus’ day, so important that His listeners knew right away what people to whom He was referring?

They knew there was a wrong way (verse 16) whereby the religious leaders had an outward show to give an appearance of spirituality. The Savior then taught (verse 17) “but when YE fast”, showing the true intention of this art which was thus most misunderstood. And then? It is to be done BEFORE GOD ALONE and not as before men or for their favor. It was A DENYING OF SELF. Hence comes the title, “NOT ME” (verse 18).

There are many Biblical helps or usages of “fasting” which give us the how and why of fasting. I like to refer to them as our “SEVEN SOUND SUPPORTS FOR THE SERVANT SEEKING FOR SUSTENANCE FOR THE SOUL”. (Honestly, Dr. Becker pays me WAY too much!)

1. Esther 4:16 A mourning for national sin through the avenue of faith

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

Esther was in a position of political importance, the queen for the king. I would encourage you to read the entire book of Esther in one sitting. In the face of extreme political (and spiritual!) opposition, Queen Esther called for a season of fasting. This would be a national turning to true faith in the Living God!

I remember that 50 years ago, in my freshman year (and only year, before transferring to Bible School) at a liberal arts college in upstate New York, the student body was invited to give up an evening meal. In exchange, the school would donate the cost of that meal toward a ministry which was providing food for the poor, starving people of Bangladesh. It was my first exposure to true Biblical fasting. I spent the entire night in God’s word. And whenever I felt the hunger urge, I immediately bowed my head in prayer for the people of Bangladesh (and for those ministries there with which I was familiar).

2/3. (Read Dan. 6:16-18 where fasting [by the king] was for the purpose of overturning seemingly impossible circumstances [Daniel thrown into the lion’s den]

Daniel 9:1-3 When confronted with God’s Word

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”

This is a most fascinating piece of Scripture! The prophet Daniel – note the words: THE. PROPHET. DANIEL. The one and only. Servant of the Lord who both forthtells and foretells God’s Word. Daniel himself, most well known servant. Daniel was reading the Bible for himself! In particular, he was reading the scroll of Jeremiah in what we call today Jeremiah 25:10 [you may not realize that chapter and verse divisions are not considered inspired but added by spiritual men of God for the intent of making Bible reading much easier]. Daniel was a Jewish captive in Gentile – and idol worshiping – Babylon. By reading the Word of God, he learned God’s plan for Israel was to be in captivity for a total of 70 YEARS! When confronted in both his heart and mind with this truth, he immediately resorted to FASTING for his nation. Would we?

4. Jonah 3:5 A purging of personal, and thus national, sin

“So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”

Jonah had preached the Word of God to the wicked people of Nineveh [not long after Jonah’s side trip in the belly of the great fish]. Jonah knew the Word of God would be effective, yet it bothered him that the enemies of Israel would be given the grace of God. In response to the Word of God, the people of Nineveh called for a personal season of fasting. And as a result, a personal fasting brought a purging of national sin.

What would happen in the nation where you readers live IF you spent a personal season of fasting? What would happen to you? Your family? Your community? Your nation? Nineveh repented. They knew, they just KNEW, that the God of Israel IS the true God. He ALONE is worthy to be worshipped! Do we understand that for OUR nation?

5. Luke 18:9-14 True fasting

“9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Do you remember our important 2 definitions of fasting? It is the temporary refraining from food for religious purposes AND it is evidenced by being empty. In Jesus’ wonderful and most familiar parable, He illustrated fasting in a most tangible way. Fasting is NOT to be an outward religious observance (as shown by the Pharisee). Rather it IS a dying to self, [as wonderfully displayed by the tax collector].

There are many other uses of “FAST” or “FASTING” in the Scriptures. I would encourage you to check out:

Matthew 17:14-21: a seeking of God’s power, thus blessing the prayer life

1 Cor. 7:1-5: a seeking of God’s holiness, thus blessing the home

NOT ME! As we close, let’s ask ourselves: what is the underlying theme in God’s purposes for fasting?

A GRIEF FOR SIN !

Do you believe this?

Then set aside time a time of fasting for God alone:

– for the nation

– for the need (and the needy)

– for the family

– for the individual heart

For what? THAT GOD WILL HAVE FIRST PLACE!

From the Series, “THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor, July 6, 2021

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father 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 our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

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

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

—Matthew 6:5-15

If you grew up in the US from 1984-1999, you knew – you just KNEW – that THE man to watch in the National Basketball Association was none other than Michael Jordan. In fact, the footwear (and other stuff!) maker used him as an advertising icon with the catch phrase, “Be Like Mike!”.

Well, I just want to tell you, I know just how he feels. All 5 foot one inch of me! In my first pastorate in Beaver Meadow (NY), on Fridays during the winter our youth group joined a group from a church in nearby Georgetown in their elementary school gym – to do what? Why, play basketball, of course!

One night I got a brainy idea! I had the kids stack all the gym mats one on top of another. Then they hoisted me to the top of the stack. There, I found myself at eye level with the gym’s basketball rim! I had the youths “feed me” one ball after another. Then I shot them toward the eye level hoop. And guess where EACH ONE all went? You bet! Swish – nothing but net! Mikey would have been so proud. Why be like Mike when you could be like ME! (I better give up while I can).

It shouldn’t be too surprising when Jesus’ disciples approached him and observed, “John the Baptist teaches his disciples how to pray. Would you teach us?” (Stopford paraphrase of Luke 11:1). AND, it is from a major scene of Season 2, Episode 7 of “The Chosen”. Have you watched “The Chosen” yet? Check out for yourself “www.thechosentv.com”! Dr. Becker – end of commercial. Thank you!)

Like the first disciples, we, too, need to have a teachable spirit. And we also need to be wise! A long-term missionary once quoted in his missionary letter, “nothing of eternal value is ever accomplished without prayer.” [does anyone know the original source of that amazing saying? Let Pastor Becker know!] We can have all the right programs, but without prayer, they amount to NOTHING. Prayer is HARD WORK. Even Martin Luther, father of the Reformation, once said, “I have an extremely busy day ahead. So I better spend at least 4 hours in prayer!”

Into this introduction, our Savior wonderfully gives us His “model prayer”. Of course, He NEVER prayed this prayer! He NEVER suggested to His disciples that this prayer, word for word, should be prayed at every church service, or even as a means of penance in any denomination. And, of course, there have been MANY great books and treatises written on this prayer. May this simply be a guide as well as an impetus to pray as Jesus taught His disciples.

Rather, the Lord Jesus’ “model prayer” can be easily divided into 4 sections. First is “INVOCATION”. In verses 4, 6, and 8 the Savior talked with the disciples in general terms about “your Father”. But the model prayer is addressed to “Our Father Who is in heaven,” or simply, “our heavenly Father.” The disciple is entering into the tenderness which Jesus has with His Father. With that brief statement, Jesus is inviting His disciples to BE STILL (Psalm 46:10). To DRAW AWAY (1 Sam. 14:36; James 4:8) from the hullabaloo of the day. In fact, He desires to be sought FIRST (Matthew 6:33). We are to come to God as a child (John 1:12). As such, we are to enjoy God as in a Father/child relationship.

I had a GREAT Dad! And we had a GREAT father/son relationship. So when I enter into my Heavenly Father/child of God relationship, I envision the tenderness and closeness which I enjoyed with my dad for almost 45 years before he passed away. But many don’t have that! For some, their dad might have been a drunk or an abuser of some other kind. What happens when that son or daughter comes to the cross, trusts Jesus as Savior, and is invited to come to “our Father”? It is a new experience, and in the big picture a cautious yet ultimately most amazing experience! Perhaps for the first time in their lives, that child has a Father Who loves them unreservedly. Can you sense that breath of fresh air in worshiping the LIVING God?

Secondly, the model prayer exhibits ADORATION! Don’t jump into petition. Remember, we are to visualize an intimate stillness. Such adoration includes “hallowed be Your Name”. “Hallowed” means “holy, excellent, sin apart.” And “Name” immediately would bring into the Jewish disciple of Jesus’ day the instruction that he would have been taught about the work of the scribe, the one who would make copies of the original scriptures. When the scribe would come to the Name of God, he would STOP! He would SAY PRAYERS. And he would CHANGE PENS. He would use the new pen to write God’s Name. He would throw that pen away. And then he would reverse the order: CHANGE PENS again; SAY PRAYERS again; and then START OVER his copy. In such a way God’s Name was revered. The disciple of the Lord should have that same reverence in prayer.

This is not a lesson on the extent of what God’s Name is. But the good Jew and the subsequent disciple of Jesus would learn His Father’s Name: “JEHOVAH” or “JHWH” (the self-existent One). “I AM THAT I AM” (the eternally self-existent One). “JEHOVAH-JIREH” (the Lord will provide). “JEHOVAH-RAPHA” (the Lord that heals). “JEHOVAH-NISSI” (the Lord our banner). “JEHOVAH-SHALOM” (the Lord our peace). “JEHOVAH-REAH” (the Lord our Shepherd). “JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU” (the Lord our righteousness). “JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH” (the Lord is present). You can understand just how powerful an impression was made when the disciple was taught “hallowed be Your Name.”

Adoration also includes “Thy Kingdom come”. “Thy Kingdom” reminds us that there is an earthly kingdom which is in opposition to His. This also marks the hope of a future settling of all world events into His good plan, HIS KINGDOM.

And adoration involves “Thy will be done – on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ heavenly pattern is…perfect! Do we remember when Moses was to build the tabernacle. It was an earthly building based upon a plan, a pattern. A pattern of what? Of the HEAVENLY TEMPLE! Thus God’s will IS done in heaven. The adoration here means that the disciple hungers for God’s will to be done on earth as well.

Thirdly, the model prayer is now PETITION. After the invocation and the adoration THEN comes the petition. A simple definition of “godly petition” would be “perfect all around care.” Under that heading, that umbrella come the desire for “daily bread” (physical), “forgiveness” (mental), and “lead us” (spiritual).

Fourth and final, the model prayer is BENEDICTION. Benediction links with Invocation. “Yours is the glory” links easily with “Our Father Who is in Heaven.” And in between – Adoration and Petition – are the meat of the model prayer. Amazingly simple. Yet amazingly profound!

Let’s close with some reminders:

* D. L. Moody said that the blessings of praying the heart of this prayer were more than his physical frame could bear. Often he would say, “STOP, LORD!”. Oh to have that kind of intimacy!

* The very abrupt prayer – “Lord, HELP!” – includes all 4 above points of the model prayer. It is not length of words that is needed!

* Above all remember: “nothing of eternal value is ever accomplished apart from prayer”.

Are you teachable?

Would you pray, “Lord, teach ME to pray!”?

FROM THE SERIES: “SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.“

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:1-8).

As our Savior is delivering His “Sermon on the Mount”, He has arrived at the point in His message that involves what true religion should look like. The world of Jesus’ day had the Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees along with other religious leaders. For all intents and purposes, they were the example to the rest of the world of Israel what a “true Biblical lifestyle” was thought to look like.

Lord willing, next week we will dive into what the world calls “The Lord’s Prayer.” Today we are looking at some of our Savior’s thoughts leading up to that teaching.

As we enter the REAL world of Biblical Christianity, we need to define two words. One is not in the Bible, the other is. The first word, NOT in the Scriptures, is “OSTENTATION”. According to the dictionary, an “ostentation” is “the act of displaying vainly or pretentiously, as in order to excite admiration. It is an excessive or un-called for exhibition.” To show this word in action, the Savior uses the term “alms” or “almsgiving” – with which both of these the casual Bible reader of 2021 may not be familiar. Again, the dictionary: an “alms” or “almsgiving” has what might be called a good intent. It means “to help people; giving a helping hand in case of need; giving money, time, anything you like which is going to help people.” And the dictionary’s final description: “it tends to be a PUBLIC DISPLAY”. In the Old Testament, in its place, the Lord uses the term “righteousnesses”.

How is the fundamental, Bible believing, Gospel preaching, Spirit led Christian supposed to live? How is he to live in a culture which is filled with public displays of so-called love, what Jesus called “alms” or “almsgiving”, but which have no Biblical content?

FIRST, he is TO LIVE IN GOD’S PRESENCE (see verses 4, 6, 18). The key line here is “the Father Who sees in secret”.

When I first got the “love bug” for the young girl who would one day become my bride, I couldn’t get her out of my sight! Why, I had the bug so bad (HOW BAD WAS IT?). It was so bad that one of our classmates asked my love, “Hey – WHO is your new little “puppy dog”?”. I had – and hopefully still do! – a closeness with this young lady with whom I knew, I just KNEW, the Lord Himself was inviting me to have a long-term relationship with her as my wife.

Now doesn’t that describe how our relationship with the Lord is to be? We are to live in His Presence! We can’t get Him out of our sight – for in reality, we aren’t out of HIS sight!. We are to have the “love bug” for Him so bad (sorry about the English, Professor Becker) that angels could ask the Lord Himself, “who is Your new little ‘puppy dog’?”. Perhaps the analogy is a poor one, but the love is real. We are to live in His Presence!

The New Testament Scriptural term for living in His Presence is the phrase “at hand”. It has a two-fold meaning. First, it can mean “soon”. For example, “the Lord’s return is ‘at hand’” means “He’s coming SOON.”. But it also means “close”. To illustrate, let’s look at a number of Biblical examples:

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:1-2

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” 2 Timothy 4:6

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Phil. 4:5

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1:3, KJV

Please allow me to give an extended quotation, from the book “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount” by Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones:

“When we wake up in the morning we should immediately remind ourselves and recollect that we are in the PRESENCE OF GOD. It is not a bad thing to say to ourselves before we go any further: ‘Throughout the whole of this day, everything I do, and say, and attempt, and think, and imagine, is going to be done under the eye of God. He is going to be with me; He sees everything; He knows everything. There is nothing I can do or attempt but God is fully aware of it all. “Thou God seest me.”’ It would revolutionize our lives if we always did that!” [my emphasis]

SECOND, the God pleasing born again believer is TO LIVE FOR GOD’S GLORY (see verses 1,2,5). The contrast is displayed in the phrases “to be seen of them” and “to sound a trumpet.”

We all WANT to be seen, don’t we? “Aw come on,” you say. “I don’t have that kind of attitude, that kind of character!” OK, let’s try a little experiment. Get a pen and a notepad, one which is small enough to fit in a pocket so it cannot be seen by those with whom you walk and talk. You are going to create a living ledger! And what are you going to write in your “little note pad living ledger”? You are to make a note of EVERY TIME you say, “How did I do?”, or “How do I look?”.

Simple enough. But what’s the point? The point is this: WE ALL WANT TO BE SEEN! And the Lord Jesus is saying, that His Father HUNGERS for His children to live for HIS glory and not for OURS.

So we should be doing things for His glory. We are to be doing things as moved by God’s Spirit. And then? And then FORGET THEM! We really don’t keep ledgers – let God keep them!

And remind yourself of Paul’s amazing words in 1 Corinthians 15:31: “I die daily.”

THIRD, we are TO LIVE TO SEE GOD’S REWARD (see verses 4 and 6).

Did you catch the phrase, “the Father will reward you”? A good study for us would be to see the times in the New Testament when the Spirit of God has included in the holy writ the REWARDS which will be given when we stand before our Father one day. Here is a reasonably full list, perhaps there are others. A good study for us:

#1. For Faithful Pastors: “the crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4)

#2. For souls won: “the crown of rejoicing” (1 Thess. 2:19)

#3. For those who love God through trials: “the crown of life” (Jas. 1:12; Rev. 2:10)

#4. For those who love Christ’s appearing: the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)

#5. For those who seek mastery of Christ over the cares of each day:

“the incorruptible crown” (1 Cor. 9:25).

How do we do that NOW? We do that by living BY FAITH. Once again, let’s look at some Biblical examples:

Abraham was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:9, 10)

Moses considered the reproaches of Christ greater reward than the riches of Egypt (Heb. 11:24-26)

All those throughout this side of eternity who choose to live by faith and not by sight, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:36-38)

So you ask, how do we begin to live such a powerful, overcoming life? Well, haven’t we learned already? We begin by LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE!!!

With no ostentations!

“YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET”

SERIES: “SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

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, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

— Matthew 5:43-48

For over 27 years, while also serving as a pastor, I was bi-vocational with a secular job as a “special officer” with the City of Norwich Police Department. One of that job’s duties was the oversight of the city and state laws governing dog control. And, of course, one of THOSE duties was to see that every dog in our municipality four months of age or older possessed a valid dog license. Why? Many would ask me, “why do I have to get a dog license IF the dog stays indoors all the time – except to go out to do “his business”?”. Well, the dog license identifies the owner. It could even save the dog’s life – if the dog were hurt, the licensed owner could be quickly found and medical attention could be sought. And it does make the dog owner responsible. He must be a good steward for his dog’s rabies shot, the license, the finances for the dog. Owning a dog is more than just a status symbol. AND the dog license is with the dog for life.

The Father is looking for His children to remember that we represent Him. In reality, HE is our identification tag! “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (verse 45) separates those that love Him from those who don’t.

In verse 43, the Savior wisely describes the problem. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”. Did God say that? NO! It was one of the 613 laws of the Pharisees. They held to the Old Testament Scriptures, but their added “laws” took on more importance than those which were written by the Lord Himself. Did God show anger at any time, righteous anger which could be interpreted by some as “hate”? Of course! We don’t have to go far to see His righteous indignation on display, as at Sodom and Gomorrah, as with His instruction to destroy all the Canaanites. Or how about the lake of fire? In Matthew 23, the Savior gives a scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, as epitomized by His statement in verse 13, “ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in,” and in verse 15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” “Hell” in this verse is the Greek word “Gehenna”. A good Jew would know that it was the word used for the town “dump” outside the city, which was ALWAYS on fire! With that symbolism, the Savior was quite descriptive not only of the issue with the Pharisees but also the ultimate eternal consequences of their false theology.

And does not the world TODAY add many laws to the simplicity of the gospel? “You must be born again.” AND you must be baptized in order to be saved. AND you must go through classes in order to be saved. AND you must go to church in order to be saved. AND you must give to the church in order to be saved. AND you must be sure the GOOD LOOKING pastor is well taken care of in order to be saved. (I added that one, could you guess?). So the problem of Jesus’ day has not gone away, has it?

So how about the solution? Did you notice verse 45, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”?

God’s view is JUDICIAL. He looks at His children through the eyes of eternity, AND He looks at the world through the eyes of eternity. Do I remember that when I look at people? Do I see them through God’s eyes?

God’s view is GRACIOUS. He looks at all peoples NOW. Do sinners enter into eternity the minute they commit a sin? NO! THAT is grace.

God’s view is PRACTICAL, When was the last time you quoted John 3:16? I mean, not rattling it off like one of your Sunday school students! Slowly now: “For. God. So. Loved. The. World, That, He. Gave. His. Only. Begotten. Son. That. Whosoever. Believes. In. Him. Should. Not. Perish. But. Have. Everlasting, Life.” Now that’s more like it! Really SLOW…! His view is practical. He analyzes the world. He is not dependent upon their nature nor on their response. Wow!

So with both the problem and the solution in mind, what action does He do? Look at verse 44: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” Contrary to the negativity of verses 38-42, God gives a positive response!

First, there is the BLESSING: “bless those who curse you…”. Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” “In due season” has the idea of “in its proper time.” The tongue is POWERFUL! It is possible in the power of the Lord that the tongue can be an instrument of…BLESSING! Is yours? Um…is mine?

Isaiah 50:4 prophesies of the Messiah, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.”

AND WHAT DID JESUS SAY ON THE CROSS? “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!”.

Next, there is the ACTION. “Do good.” The Christian who is id’d as a child of the King will do benevolent acts. One version says “heap coals upon their heads”. Give them what they DON’T deserve!

Third, there is WORSHIP. Pray for them! This involves LOOKING AT YOURSELF! And ask yourself, “am I responding to them as they are responding to me? OR am I looking at them the way God looks at them? This further involves seeing their position as sinners with need. And last it involves praying for their ETERNAL needs.

WHAT’S THE GOAL OF ALL THIS? In verse 48, our Savior closes this section with a most confusing verse by today’s standards: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” I took a course in philosophy at my one year in a liberal arts college. The philosophers had interesting goals! Plato: “universal goodness” (sound familiar?). Aristotle: “ethical goodness – making the right choices”. Stoics: “being virtuous”. And Philo: “academic vision” (knowledge).

But what is the Lord Jesus’ goal? He said, “be perfect”. Various translations define this as: “reach an end”; “go toward an ideal – don’t be satisfied with anything short of it”; and “single-minded, undivided, obedient, complete, mature.”.

The Pharisees took upon themselves the judicial view of God, as if they were instruments of His eternal oversight on humanity. They did NOT see people through the gracious view of God, His present love.

Verses 38-42 talk about the negative: do not strike back. Verses 43-48 talk about the positive: love!

God responds with common grace (the rain even on the unjust as well as on the just!). But He also responds with LOVE, a love which depends on Him and not on the world’s response,

And when this is in full gear in the child of God who is dependent upon his Savior, what will the end be? He will be TOTAL. COMPLETE. MATURE.

Does that describe ME? YOU?

…Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

– with apologies to D. James Kennedy”

“THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

By Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to 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 away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” (Matthew 5:38-42)

Wow! Well over 50 years ago, while living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, my parents and I visited the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. No, not the big building on Federal Highway which seats almost 10 thousand – per service. Rather, the store-front building on Commercial Boulevard from which Dr. D. James Kennedy was hoping to establish a fundamental Bible believing ministry. God used Dr. Kennedy’s ministry and stick-to-it-iveness for the creation of this ministry directly from the grassroots.

All that to say this: years later he had a televised study on the “Sermon on the Mount”. I was so overcome by his insights to our text that I bought a paper copy and devoured it (spiritually speaking, of course!). Portions of this study today are from his astute observations.

The world has a way of compromising truth! Verse 38 is a prime example, where our Savior introduces the issue by saying, “You have heard that it was said…”. Well, WHO said it? In His day and age, that would be the Pharisees. The Savior wisely was teaching His disciples that there is a BOLD difference between the LETTER of the law and the SPIRIT of the law. The Pharisees were the police officers, as it were, of the LETTER of the law! If anyone crossed that line, they were guilty, violators, and the Pharisees had the authority to issue punishment. Of course, they added to the law! 613 more laws were written by their teachers to aid in the individual Jew being a “good Jew”.

Kind of like becoming a “good Christian” without following Jesus, eh?

In contrast, our Savior shows the SPIRIT or INTENT or even better yet, HIS PURPOSE of the law! He introduces that by saying, “but I tell you…”. In the presence of the Pharisees and the religious leaders of His day was the very AUTHOR of the law! He should know what the purposes were of each written law. He should know their INTENT, their SPIRIT, His PURPOSE!!!

The Pharisees had appointed themselves – the very epitome of the “self-appointed judges” of the law’s LETTER. They failed to realize that the SPIRIT/INTENT/PURPOSE of the law had at least 3 aims:

That injuries didn’t result in unjust revenge (e.g., death for an eye out);

That vengeance would not be taking lightly but seriously, so as to avoid it; and

That any system for just retribution, as described by the law, was to be decided by the JUDGES and not by individuals. The Pharisees had lost sight of that.

Note the Savior’s command in verse 39: “do NOT resist an evil person”. Dr. Kennedy notes that the injured Christian (AND he notes that he hopes he was injured “for the Word’s sake and not for his own sake) has 4 choices of response:

(1) He could return EVIL FOR GOOD. This is the devil’s response, which response has NO compassion.

(2) He could return EVIL FOR EVIL. This reminds me of at least two bumper stickers I’ve seen. “You step on me, I step on you.” And my FAVORITE OF ALL TIME: “You toucha my truck, I smasha your face.” Hmmm….

(3) He could return GOOD FOR GOOD. This is the human response.

(4) He could return GOOD FOR EVIL! This can only be done by the enablement of the Spirit of God!

Put in but 3 words, Jesus’ response is “RESIST NOT EVIL”!

“Resist” means “to set yourself in opposition to”. How is this seen in Scripture?

Acts 7:51: to those same religious authorities, while in the hearing of the Old Testament Scriptures concerning the coming of the Messiah, Stephen said, “You always RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT as your fathers did, so do you.”

Romans 9:19: to those of Israel who have denied Jesus as the Messiah, Paul writes “You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has RESISTED HIS WILL?”

2 Timothy 3:8: to those in battle with the Scriptures, Paul writes, “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also RESIST THE TRUTH: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith…”

Hebrews 12:4: to those striving for the faith, the author of Hebrews reminds them that they haven’t died yet, “You have not yet RESISTED UNTO BLOODSHED, striving against sin.”

“Evil” is often discussed in Scripture, and is especially described in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:33 – the Christian alarm system: “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, WITHOUT FEAR OF EVIL.”

Proverbs 15:3 – the Christian awareness: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch ON THE EVIL and on the good.”

Proverbs 15:15 – the Christian appetite: “All the days of the afflicted are EVIL,

But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.”

Proverbs 17:11, 13 – the Christian action: “AN EVIL MAN seeks only rebellion;

Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him…Whoever REWARDS EVIL FOR GOOD, EVIL WILL NOT DEPART from his house.”

In verses 39-42, there are several identities of the Word of God in combat. There is “injury to the body” (verse 39).

There is “injury to property” (verse 40). By the way, a “tunic” or “coat” in Jesus’ day was an undergarment. And a “cloak” is “the costly upper robe or mantle.” A poor man might have several underclothes for changing. However, he might have only one upper garment, which would have a double use. It would be for clothing by day and bed clothes by night.

There is “injury to freedom” (verse 41). Contrary to modern day times, any Jew of Jesus’ day knew immediately what the Savior was talking about!

When Cyrus the King of Persia was in power, he would press into service anyone needed to usher his decrees. This was his version of our present day postal system. And the farthest they would go would be…ONE MILE.

When Rome under Caesar took over the nation of Israel, he continued the same policy, but with a few changes. Not only would the Jew carry his “mail” [or “orders”]. He would also have the Jew carry “burdens” (or “packages”). It was an indignity for the Jew to be tapped by a Roman spear and be told, “carry my burden now, Jew.” He then would have to go one mile, only then to return from where he came.

The hearer with Jesus’ insight would fully understand: Jesus was saying, “Go TWO MILES! And when you’ve done THAT, return. And do it as if APPOINTED – “SPEARED” – BY GOD! And finally in verse 42, there was the identity of being “injured to pride.”

It is said in BUSINESS that there are 3 types of employees:

(1). Those that goof off;

(2). Those that do just what is required of them, fulfill duties, get paycheck, and don’t advance far; and

(3). Those that go beyond, are creative, and don’t see their job as a routine but enjoy their job.

It is said in MARRIAGE that there are 3 types of marriages!:

(1). Some don’t even do elemental duties of marriage life (they co-exist!);

(2). Some just do whaat is expected. They see marriage as having no excitement, just routine; and

(3). Some go into marriage doing more than expected or required, resulting in vitality and enthusiasm.

The THIRD points are those who have gone THE SECOND MILE in BUSINESS and in MARRIAGE.

Don’t simply resist the evil. Find the JOY OF THE SECOND MILE.

“You will never know when a Roman soldier puts his spear on your shoulder

to do a task which is contrary to your desires, to your direction…

When you are going to be “injured” for righteousness sake…

THEN you will find out what spiritual stuff you are made of.”

—-Dr. D. James Kennedy

HAVE YOU BEEN SPEARED BY JESUS LATELY?

FROM THE SERIES,

“THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

From Matthew 5:33-37

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

Bible Text: ”33 “ Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” —Matthew 5:33-37

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, I SWEAR!”. Often, those 3 little words are followed by a very much expletive NOT deleted. How do you respond? We who love the Lord Jesus as Savior should be interested in how – or even WHY – the Savior takes the time to deal with this subject!

FIRST, we must ask the question, BY WHAT STANDARD?

(With apologies to Brother Rushdoony – I’m not stealing his title! Nor apparently the title used in the 1980’s by our Southern Baptist brethren as they entered the fray for the sanctity of the authority of the Scriptures!).

The time of our Savior was filled with the words and “authority” of the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. They were considered the religious leaders of the day. Their word – and interpretations of their word – were the supposed governor of all religious thought, teaching, and direction of both church and spiritual society. They had the self-imposed authority to enforce the Scriptures ALONG WITH the 613 laws that they added to the Bible. And yes, often those added laws carried more weight than the Scriptures themselves.

So what was God’s true standard of which Jesus reminded His hearers?

First, Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”

And, Leviticus 19:1, 2, 12: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy…And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.”

And what about OUR day? There is an international church which says, concerning marriage: “Marriage is God’s standard. We are against divorce. BUT if conditions warrant, we simply annul a marriage and say IT NEVER EXISTED.”

What did Jesus say? Later in Matthew’s gospel, Chapter 23:1-4, He addressed His attention directly to the scribes and the Pharisees:

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

And hence came the popular phrase, “DO AS THEY SAY, NOT AS THEY DO.”

Second, we must ask, BY WHAT SERIOUSNESS?

In verse 34, our Savior says “Swear not at all.” What is He NOT saying? Our Quaker friends refuse in court to “swear to tell the truth.” That becomes as legalistic as the Pharisees! Does it not create a form of “legislated holiness”? Why, can you not hear the old timers say, “Do not go to movies and you will be holy”?

Why, several Old Testament saints DID take oaths, and the Bible acknowledges those oaths as most honorable! Remember Jacob? He received an oath from Joseph that he was NOT to be buried in Egypt. By faith, Jacob trusted that God would one day honor His Word and the Israelites would go home to Israel. Jacob’s bones were to go with them!

Furthermore, remember David and Jonathan? They took an oath of each other, that the one of the two who survived would care for each others’ descendants. In truth, after Jonathan died, David would take care of Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth! IF you are ever looking for an unusual name to name your son, there you go! In fact, Mephibosheth would not only sit at David’s dinner table. He would also possess all the lands that King Saul once owned. All because of the honoring of an oath.

So what DOES Jesus mean here? He is saying: “DO NOT base your truth, your position, on the greatness of anything!” Rather, recognize the consequences. Legislated holiness is of the evil one, of the world system, which is in active opposition to that which is GOOD!

Our third question is, BY WHAT SANCTITY?

The Lord Jesus said that our conversation – our “communication” rather than our “manner of life” – should be “yes” or “no”. Clear as mud, right? That is, our communication should be truth from the heart because of our living and active relationship with the living God. We need to swear by an Object of divine significance!

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Note how the Apostle Paul introduced his section on Romans dealing specifically with the future of the nation of Israel:

“I tell the truth in Christ, I AM NOT LYING, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 9:1)

Check out the Apostle James’ instruction, in James 3:14:

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, DO NOT boast and LIE AGAINST THE TRUTH.”

(For further examples, see also: 2 Cor. 11:31; Gal. 1:20; Col. 3:9; and2 Tim. 2:7).

TO CONCLUDE: “How do we point others to Christ?” could be the question that our Savior is asking in this passage. And He answers it in a way that is highly applicable to today! Do we win people to the Savior by showing them the rituals of our faith? OR to we win people to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus by showing them a changed life as a result of our relationship with the Savior?

Do we point people to rituals, or do we point people to the cross of Calvary?

What is your STANDARD?

What is your SERIOUSNESS?

What is your SANCTITY?

IS IT NOT THE LORD JESUS AND YOUR TRUST, YOUR REST,

IN HIS ETERNAL FAITHFULNESS?

“Jesus said, “Come unto ME, all who are weary and heavy burdened,

And I WILL give you REST.” (Matthew 11:28)

WE CAN SWEAR BY THAT AUTHORITY!

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Sometimes we can make the Bible say anything we want it to. For example, “adultery” and “divorce” ARE in the Bible. But are they right? Do they please God? Did the Lord Jesus say anything about these vital, yet often divisive, subjects?

Read these words of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 5:27-32:

”27 “You have heard that it was said [a]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. ”

As strange as it sounds, this is a true story! In the early 1900’s in churches throughout the United States, preachers were concerned with a new fad among woman: the “top knot”. No, they were NOT [not “knot” – no pun intended!] the “man buns” of today. But the preachers were concerned that the world’s fashion was creeping rapidly into the church. One Sunday, one famous preacher took it upon himself to give the ultimate Biblical proof that the ideals of the world were not meant for the fundamental child of God. “The woman is not to be wearing the styles of the world, “ he boldly proclaimed. “Why, it says so right in the Bible, Matthew 24:17: “Let him which is on the houseTOP (K)NOT COME DOWN to take any thing out of his house.” Hmmm. I wonder if in 2021 he would have used that passage for the current “man bun” phase!

But to answer the lesson title, YES! Adultery and Divorce ARE in the Bible! But are they right? Are they scriptural? Do they please our Heavenly Father? Amazingly, it was important to our Savior to include in the Sermon on the Mount His insights on these most potentially divisive subjects. In our text, the Lord Jesus covers this topic giving several amazing and insightful points.

FIRST, SIN IS NOT AN ACTION BUT A NATURE (verse 27). For the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus’ day, adultery was an outward act. Therefore they could proudly say of themselves – even before the Lord – “I’m not an adulterer. Therefore, I don’t sin.” But for the Lord Jesus, adultery is an outward sign of an inward heart, a human nature which is hungry TO sin! It is not so much that I DO a thing. Rather, it is what makes me do it, what urges me to do it, that matters.

The Bible makes several distinctions about sin. The unsaved – those who have never trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior – are sinners by nature and by choice. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…”. Further, Romans 6:23 adds, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The saved have been freed from the penalty of sin, but they still have a nature which is in a battle between the Lordship of Christ and the dominion of that sin.

The Apostle Paul tells pointedly of his own spiritual struggles, as recorded in Romans 7:13: “Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.” Will this battle always be victorious for the enemy, or is the Savior strong enough [how dare I write so!] to overcome the enemy? Paul concludes, in verses 23-25a, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

In Galatians 5:19, where the Apostle Paul lists what he has called the “sins of the flesh”, note the first one on the list: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery…”. Paul sees adultery as a work of the flesh which is in opposition to the operation of the Holy Spirit! Thankfully, the battle has a Victor in our Savior. Even John the Baptist wrote of Him in John 1:29, “…“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Indeed, SIN IS A NATURE, and the Savior and the power of His death and shed blood “take away the sin of the world” for all who trust Him as Savior and Lord of their lives.

Is He YOUR trust? If you love Him as your Savior, do you trust Him as LORD of your life?

SECOND, SIN IS TREATED, NOT BY THE ACTIONS, BUT AT THE ROOTS (verses 28-30). In Matthew 15, the Lord Jesus has a confrontation once again with the religious leaders of His day. They were concerned that His disciples were not obeying not only the law but also one of the many 613 RULES that they had added to the law! In verse 8, He quotes from Isaiah 29:13, “‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Quoting from a prophet that the Pharisees and other leaders respected, the Lord Jesus put them in their place. The Pharisees were condemning the disciples’ actions. Jesus’ – using their own Scriptures – condemned the root of their religiosity.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior uses the illustration of the eye and the hand. They were created for good! They were designed by their Creator to be used to bring glory to Him. With His words – “pluck it out”, “cut it off”, “cast it from you” – He was not encouraging a gruesome self-surgical procedure. Rather, He was showing a phrase which Paul would use often through His epistles: “mortify”, “put to death”. An unknown author once wrote, “That which God has created for good must be placed on His altar.”

Paul wrote in Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

One of his most famous verses is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And in Galatians 5:24, Paul goes on to say, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The outward battle is won by destroying the inward roots!

THIRD, HOLINESS IS NOT IDEALS BUT STANDARDS (verses 31-32). The same theme here is found in Mark 10:1-9. Once again, while the Savior is teaching, the Pharisees – who were SUPPOSED to be the religious leaders and thus God’s representatives of their day – questioned Jesus’ teaching. They tried to trap Him, asking Him, “is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”. The Savior did not go to any one of the Pharisees 613 EXTRA RULES. Rather, He went to creation! Verses 5-9 pointedly say:

“Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

God had given an allowance in the Old Testament, an allowance for the hardness of man’s heart. However, in the Old as well as New Testament times, God’s hunger is for marriage. That is His standard.

OUR CONCLUSION today is wrapped around the heart of our amazing Savior: ALL SIN FINDS ITS HOPE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST! Here’s a tough question: are divorce and adultery forgivable? A situation is vividly described in the confrontation of the scribes, the Pharisees, the people, the Lord Jesus, and an helpless woman “caught in adultery” (John 8:1-12). The Pharisees wondered what the Lord was going to do to this one so “caught”. He wrote on the ground. “What did He write?”, one would wisely ask. It is implied that He wrote with His finger! Why is that important? In Exodus 31:18, it is said of God, that He wrote the 10 Commandments on stone with His finger! Don’t you wonder if those watching Him understood the implication: what they were accusing this girl of, of that and more they all were guilty!

So ARE DIVORCE AND ADULTERY FORGIVEABLE? All sin finds its forgiveness in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The invitation is available to all.

The hope is available to all!

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

Is the Lord Jesus YOUR trust?

If you love Him as your Savior, do you trust Him as LORD of your life?

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

By Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

From Matthew 5:17-26

The story is told about a snail who was in a horrible accident. How horrible was it? Well, he lost his shell! So he went home to recover. Several days later, a good friend stopped by. “I heard about your accident,” the friend said. “How do you feel?”

“Well,” said the snail, “to be honest I feel a little sluggish.”

Don’t you think that we occasionally feel a little sluggish in our appreciation and respect for, as well as the regular application of, the amazing love and grace of God for us?

The Sermon on the Mount, and in particular the verses which follow the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), have much to say about the practical application of the teachings of our Savior!

But PLEASE remember this: while the Lord Jesus IS a Great Teacher – He first of all is LORD OF ALL! His desire is not for us to be good students of the Word. His desire is for our WORSHIP of Him FIRST of all!

Into that scenario come the verses of today’s text,:

”Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one [b]jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:17-26.

In this section, our Savior begins a vivid attack/counterattack with the false teachings of the religious leaders of the day. Those leaders were suffocating the grace of God with their rules and regulations!

Do BELIEVERS have rules and regulations that are suffocating? I once walked into the gym of a neighboring church. As one enters the gym there were written on the wall next to the door the “Twenty Rules for Gym Use”.

Ok, I get it. There should be rules for courtesy of our fellow gymnasts. But THESE rules were even more specific than that: what clothes to wear, what length of hair for boys, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. From the minute I walked into the gym after reading those rules, I felt I couldn’t breathe! I was fearful that I might intentionally or unintentionally break one of those 20 rules!

AND dear friends, that was how the religious leaders of Jesus’ day affected the populace of Israel!

It behooves us to see the Savior’s insights into a number of the leaders’ views on something as foundational to the state of the nation as murder. What is His heart?

FIRST, God’s view of murder and killing has never changed! Exodus 20:13, a part of the 10 Commandments, says, “Thou shalt not kill” [or “murder” in NKJV]. To kill means “to break or dash into pieces; to slay in a violent or unjust manner; to murder without cause”. The phrase “without cause” is a key! God never applied “killing” or “murder” to the slaying of brute beasts! Can you imagine what the Lord, much less Old Testament theologians, would have thought about today’s “animal rights” activists? He would have said that while the 10 commandments do NOT cover that, He would rather have a respect for all life. Furthermore, in Genesis 9:6, written well before the law, the Lord says,

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image

of God He made man.”

God takes a high view of ALL human life! So, for example, when you read in the paper about an airplane crash where there were no survivors, what is your first thought? It SHOULD be not only for the families of those victims, it should be this: “where are those victims now spending eternity? Were they ever under the hearing of the Word of God, and of the love of God in Christ? Did they ever receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior?” We need to have God’s view of people! People are eternal beings!

So since God’s view of murder and killing has not changed, even the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus day should have been surprised when the Savior made a more practical application in Matthew 5:22:

“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be

in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in

danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell

fire.”

Wow! So SECOND, God’s view of murder includes more than just a physical slaying! It is more than just the letter of the law! It involves causeless anger against a fellow human being.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 97:10:

“You who love the Lord, hate evil!

He preserves the souls of His saints;

He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.”

Ephesians 4:26 directly quoted Psalm 4:4:

““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath…”

Do you feel anger or rage, even against someone who has done nothing to you? The Lord Jesus is saying that that is equal in His sight to…MURDER.

What about “RACA”? “Raca” is the word for “worthless fellow, a senseless empty head”. If you were to call your brother that – apparently something that those of the religious right of the day felt free to do – Jesus says that you are guilty as if guilty of murder.

AND if you call someone “FOOL”, that in our Savior’s eyes (and heart!) is the utmost in human abuse. Consider again all the animal cruelty laws that are in the books. When I worked for the City of Norwich (NY) police department, I was authorized to enforce those laws. But here is the Lord’s “HUMAN CRUELTY LAW”! He said that if you call someone a “fool”, you are guilty of “hell fire”, or “Gehenna”. The citizen of Jesus’ day would know that He was equating the awfulness of the city dump – with its constant burnings and otherwise heinousness – as a human picture of an eternal truth. He was showing that it is possible for someone to be in danger of more than just man’s judgment. Someone can be guilty of God’s judgment: hell fire.

THIRD and last, there must be reconciliation. Verses 23-26 can be summed up well with His one pointed statement:

“Agree with your adversary quickly…”!!!

God’s view concerns outward relationships! There MUST be reconciliation, something the heart of man often overlooks. Think of this: God demands a reconciliation between man and Himself through the cross in order for a person to have fellowship with the eternal God. So it shouldn’t surprise us that God also wants reconciliation between man and man in order to have a relationship with one’s fellow man!

As we close our lesson for this week, please note a small word, only 7 letters.

QUICKLY! (v. 25)

Remember the account of that airplane crash? Life is full of the unexpected.

QUICKLY!

“Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)

QUICKLY!

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

QUICKLY!

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

We have now come to the second lesson in the “AND BEYOND !!!” part of the Sermon on the Mount.

Let me introduce this week’s lesson with a most unusual illustration. The date was Friday September 25, 1992 and the place was Beaver Meadow, New York, a very rural community about one hour south of Syracuse in the central part of the state. I was in the 7th year of my service there as pastor. It was about midnight. My wife and I were “long gone” in sleep when we were suddenly awakened to the noise of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. We quickly dressed, ran outside, and followed the noise of the trucks. At the same time, we also heard a most unusual sound – one which we hoped we were wrong in our evaluation.

But we were correct – the garage of the neighbor directly across the street AND next to the church was on fire! The night was enjoying a confusing blend of light (from the fire) and dark (from the night). Mingled with the light and dark were the voices. There were voices of anguish from the family and community members who were concerned not only with the location of the fire, but also with the preservation of the family’s house to the north and of the community church immediately to the south of the burning garage.

It was a COLD early fall night. We quickly went to work! We set up tables and chairs and throughout the long night supplied drinking water and brewed massive quantities of coffee for the firemen and other emergency workers.

By morning the garage was a complete loss. Not only was the owner’s business gone – his woodworking shop from which he created amazing pieces of oak furniture. The elderly family dog – well, actually, he was the entire neighborhood’s dog! – had succumbed to the smoke just inside the garage door.

The next day we all commented how much light and darkness mixed together without distinction. My wife and I were blessed to serve in the pastorate here, and yet, and yet!, for a brief moment the light of the fire and the darkness of the night combined to show us just how quickly light and dark can mix in the hearts of those to whom we were called to minister, and to whom we were trying to make an eternal impact.

In a nutshell, that is what Matthew 5:14-16 is all about. LIGHT and DARK. They are designed by God to be distinct from each other. But our Savior is quick to note that sometimes, SOMETIMES, in His children they appear confusingly together. Sadly, though, the distinction God wants for His children is forgotten. Listen to that distinction during the Egyptian plagues in Exodus 10:23, “They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” And when describing the separation of Israel from the Egyptians who were following, Moses wrote (Exodus 14:20), “So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.” As the Israelites were always in the light, God’s design is that the Christian as well is always to be in the light.

As I prepared for this message/lesson, I learned much about His usages of LIGHT and DARK in the Good Book. Allow me to collate a few of those amazing passages.

FIRST, let’s look at WHERE WE ARE – IN DARKNESS! Job said of the leadership of the nations (12:25a), “They grope in the dark without light…”. The prophet Isaiah warns (5:20a), “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil who put darkness for light, and light for darkness…”. Our Savior gives the heavenly assessment (the complete passage is John 3:19-21), “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil… But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” The prophet Isaiah put it all in perspective as he looked forward to the coming of the Messiah (9:2)- a prophesy which our Savior said referred to Himself (Matthew 4:16): “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” In direct contrast with the offer of His light, the darkness of the world is a vivid picture of death without Jesus.

SECOND, let’s look at WHOSE WE ARE – IN CHRIST! Even in the Old Testament, the psalmist David cried out about his relationship with his Savior. Note the amazing start of Psalm 27:1a, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?” Once again, our Savior gives His interpretation, His application to Himself (!!!) (John 8:12), “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Throughout the psalms, the authors show the connection with our identification with the Savior, Listen to this sampling: “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.” (43:3). “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” (36:9). “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” (89:15). So how is the child of God to reflect Whose we are, an identity that should be on display from the moment we trust Jesus as Savior? Listen to the Apostle John’s wonderful words (1 John 1:7): “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” We belong to the King of kings! He is pure LIGHT. And in His light we are, for we are “in Christ!

THIRD, let’s look at WHO WE ARE – THE LIGHT! We are a refreshing brightness! (How can that be?). David quoted the Lord’s words about himself in 2 Samuel 23:3b-4, “‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds,

Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.’” The Christian in turn is a REFRESHING BRIGHTNESS in a dark world! In 2 Kings 8:19, in spite of the description of King Jehoram’s wickedness, God gives a sobering evaluation of the nation: “Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.” The Christian in the world is like the remnant of Israel – he is to be a REMNANT OF GODLINESS AGAINST SIN. In the book of Esther, the nation had won the victory against the evil of one of the members of its leadership. In turn, it was said of itself, “The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor…”. The Christian in the world is to be what we have – LIGHT: HOPE AMONG THE HOPELESS! And the Apostle Paul gives a reminder of the Christian’s position, as he says in Romans 13:13, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Armor? What does that make the Christian? He is a SOLDIER OF LIGHT AMIDST THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD!

TO CONCLUDE, let’s look at WHAT WE HAVE – EXAMPLES OF

ENCOURAGEMENT! How is it even possible for soldiers of LIGHT to be light in this dark world? Where are we to look when we KNOW that we ARE to be LIGHT, when there is so much DARKNESS around us? We look to the Good Book to see others who have gone on before, those who were LIGHT while living in the real DARKNESS of their world! Let’s listen to two of the classic lines of two of God’s choice servants:

Listen to DANIEL: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10). In the midst of DARKNESS, Daniel knew where to find LIGHT – by maintaining his custom of walking with the Lord in prayer,

Listen to JOB: “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:20-22). Do you hear him, dear people? Eventually in this wonderful book, we will walk with Job as he loses EVERYTHING, even the support of his wife. Yet in the big picture, when he had NOTHING in the world, HE HAD THE LORD! And so do we.

The children of LIGHT who serve the King of kings in DARKNESS can follow our SAVIOR Who IS LIGHT! The children of LIGHT can be encouraged with those who have also served the King of kings in DARKNESS. Choice servants like Daniel and Job – and many others – are there in scripture to remind us that we are not alone!

Press on, child of LIGHT, in the DARKNESS of the world around us, a world without God and without hope. Be the LIGHT in the DARKNESS that will point those who are lost and without hope to the One Who is PURE LIGHT, the One Who gave Himself for our sin at Calvary,

Remember WHO YOU ARE…

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Ask yourself: “WHO AM I and WHOSE AM I?”

“THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor,

how shall it be seasoned?

It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out

and trampled underfoot by men.”

—Matthew 5:13

We have now come to the “AND BEYOND !!!” part of the Sermon on the Mount. Having finished the 8 beatitudes (“blessed…”), the Savior now invests several of our chapters discussing how the believer is to be different in the world wherever He has wisely placed us.

Today’s study takes us initially to the kitchen, and with the subject matter being “SALT”. Now, I’m a real aficionado when it comes to the kitchen. Back in 2002 when I was pastoring my first charge in a small town called Beaver Meadow, NY, my wife suddenly developed cancer. She would need surgery and as a result would be bedridden for several weeks following the surgery. [BTW – that cancer no longer exists, PTL!] The church ladies asked if they could help to make meals while my bride was recovering. I wisely said, “I’ve got it all taken care of! We’ll have hot dogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and we’ll have hamburgers on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays? Oh then we’ll have leftovers. I’ve got it all taken care of!”. Needless to say, the kind ladies and their families fed us well!

SALT! The Lord Jesus is taking us into the kitchen of His usefulness. When He says, “you are the SALT of the earth”, He is making a number of distinctions:

* The “YOU” is the Christian – the individual making an impact in the day to day living.

* The “YOU” is NOT primarily the Church (local or universal); while a lighthouse in the community, it is not as evident as the Christian on a day to day basis.

* The “EARTH” is the world and its system, quite distinct from the Christian.

* The distinction is always to be evident. We are in it to win it but not a part of its system – we were bought out of it!

But when the Christian has lost its “FLAVOR/SAVOR” – its strength, its distinctions – he is now useless, and the world (and Satan) has gained another victory.

THIS MAY SOUND HARSH: The world is FULL of useless Christians who have given up being SALTS. Today’s verse is designed to REFRESH, to REVIVE, and to PRICK as a warning of what could happen.

I’M NO CHEF! Thankfully the Bible shows several uses – pictures – of SALT which should remind the Christian of what he is to be:

First, SALT shows an AGREEMENT.

“As for the offering of the first fruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.  And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Leviticus 2:12-13

This is the harvest season! And the description of “first fruits” means that these are lifted up to God at the start of the harvest. It is an act of faith – letting God know that the farmer/citizen is trusting God for the bounty of the REST of the harvest!

The “SALT of the covenant” is a recognition of GOD’S provision. SALT thus becomes a wonderful picture of what God has provided.

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ

Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His

mercy He saved us…” Titus 3:5a

This is the Father’s greatest agreement, that He has provided a Savior AND He has provided salvation in the Savior – His Son the Lord Jesus – ALONE!

But further, it is an agreement that salvation is in Christ and NOT in the church.

NOTE THE WARNING HERE: When the Christian forgets, casts aside this agreement, he has lost his focus, his SAVOR, and he is now USELESS.

Second, SALT shows a JUDGMENT.

In Genesis 19, we find God’s judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities which He was going to destroy due to their extreme and willful wickedness. By the grace of God, Lot’s family was spared from the destruction. But they were given a warning. Listen to the Holy Writ:

“Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain.” [v. 17c].

Of course, we know Lot’s wife’s ultimate response:

“his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of SALT.”

It reminds me of the story of the little Sunday school boy listening attentively to the teacher describing the above incident. He politely raised his hand, and when called upon recounted, “the other day my mom was driving, and she looked back and turned into a telephone pole.”

Of tremendous interest is the look of Abraham just moments later:

“ Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.” [v. 28].

Why was Lot’s wife judged and turned into a pillar of SALT, but when Abraham looked at the destroyed towns, he was NOT judged? The answer is simple: Lot’s wife looked with longing; Abraham looked with horror while observing the holiness of God on display.

SALT shows a JUDGMENT.

Third, SALT shows an HEALING.

In 2 Kings, a situation developed where water was no longer drinkable. This was a most dangerous situation – for without good water, the ground could not be cropped and the people would also die of thirst. Elisha the prophet was used of God in a most unique way. His instructions were most unique:

“Bring me a new bowl, and put SALT in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he

went out to the source of the water, and cast in the SALT there, and said, “Thus

says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or

barrenness.’ ”

As the SALT was used of God to be an instrument of healing bad water, so the Christian is to be a SALT, an healing influence of hearts for eternity. He is also to be a healer of lives for today. He makes a difference. He IMPROVES his world, his job, his community. Do WE?

Finally, SALT shows a SEASONING.

I’m no chef, but a little SALT DOES make eggs taste better!

Listen to this amazing verse:

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with SALT, that you may

know how you ought to answer each one.” [Colossians 4:6]

The Christian is the GRACE – the presence of Christ – here through the tongue. He adds flavor to the arena in which he has been wisely placed by the living God.

As SALT also acts as a preservative, keeping food from decaying – even so, the Christian is an instrument who holds back sin and in turn changes lives into something useful for God! You’ve seen in personally: when you walk into a room, what happens? The swearing stops! Or you hear, “oh, I’m sorry, pardon my French!”.

The reality is that where SAVOR is lost, SIN WINS.

The Christian is in a battle to be SALT. How are YOU doing in this battle?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor,

how shall it be seasoned?

It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out

and trampled underfoot by men.”

—Matthew 5:13