Monday 19^th November

Matthew 5:27-30

One of Jesus’ most interesting and hard teachings starts with the quotation of the seventh commandment God gave to Moses on Mt Sinai. “You shall not commit adultery”. Looking at that from a modern Christian perspective it’s a pretty straight forward, understandable and agreeable commandment. However in our passage today we read that Jesus gives it a whole new meaning and highlights an even deeper problem that puts adultery relatively on the back burner (that is not to say that adultery is not of great importance).

Jesus proceeds in verse 28 to say that even if you look lustfully (a continual desire or gaze into what is not Godly or permissible) at a woman/man you have already committed adultery in your HEART. What a strong challenge from Jesus. But if that’s not strong enough Jesus issues another warning by saying that if any part of your body causes you to lust then cut it off, for it is better to loose a body part than to miss out on Gods kingdom.

However, Jesus here is not talking about self-mutilation but rather an even deeper sense of purging sin from our lives. Rico Tice says in his exposition of this passage that the truth is that no matter how far the surgeon’s scalpel goes, sin will remain in our lives if we do not deal with the real issue. Well what is the real issue?

The issue here is not the act of adultery but the desire of our HEART. Our temptations, according to James chapter 1:13-15, is the result of our own desires. In other words the reason we are lustfully tempted is the result of our HEART problem. See we are born having sinful natures and after we become God’s children Christ deals with that.  However it is not to say that we will never sin or be tempted again. In fact our Lord and Messiah Jesus Christ Himself was tempted by the enemy. But here comes the good part!!

According to Hebrews 2:18, Jesus was tempted but because He withstood it, as He is perfect, He can help us in our times of temptation. But the good news just gets better. Not only can He help us to withstand temptations, He deals with the original problem, the sin in our HEART. When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His precious blood. John says in his epistle, that it is Jesus’ blood that cleanses us from sin. He doesn’t just forgive us if we confess our sins but cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness.

Our HEART without Christ is like a piece of paper that has been scrunched up and rubbed through the mud. When we accept Christ He not only removes the stains but irons the paper as if new again. Jesus is the only one who could issue such a warning as we see in Matthew 5 but Jesus is also the only person who can help us withstand the temptation, which leads to becoming more like Him.

Daily Prayer

Thank You for Jesus, for His blood and for Him taking my punishment instead of me! Amen

Saturday 17^th November

Matthew 5:43-48

In one of Jesus’ most profound teachings we find a true golden nugget of Jesus’ perfection and standard that He has set to us, His followers. Here in Matthew 5:43 Jesus quotes an old law found in Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbour”. In the context of this passage, neighbour would have been all Israelites. Jesus adds on the common misinterpretation of this law by saying that you should also hate your enemy. However this statement is not found in the Bible, on the contrary the Bible says in Proverbs 25:21 ‘that if your enemy is hungry feed him, thirsty then give him a drink’. In this passage Jesus is not only clarifying the wrong interpretations of this law but turns it on its head by adding a radical teaching.

“But I say to you, love your enemies.” What a hard teaching when we look at this at face value. Jesus I can love my neighbour, my own people but to love someone who I don’t like…HOW?? But Jesus doesn’t just leave it there; He adds 2 others commands that the NLT version misses out. He says, “Bless those who curse you”, “pray for those who spitefully use you” and those who persecute you. This really does seem a contrast from just loving your neighbour.

 A probable question that some may have asked, (without adding to the text what is not there), could be have been “Lord, You don’t really expect this from us”. However in verse 45 Jesus says that He does expect this from us that we may truly live as children of God. He goes on to say that our Heavenly Father shows no partiality in His love for both evil and good or just and unjust. God gives sunlight and rain to all people. So just as He shows no partiality, so should we. Jesus summarises His point but asking 2 rhetorical questions. If you love only those who love you or greet only your own people, what difference are you to the tax collectors (sinners) and what does it profit you??

This lesson stands for us today. In verse 48 Jesus concludes in saying that we are to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. This is the golden nugget of this passage. On our own we are sinful people but with Christ’s perfect impartial love in us, we can show love to those who curse, persecute, and spitefully use us. On our own, our natural instinct is to be kind to those who are kind to us but with Christ’s love in us not only can we love those we otherwise couldn’t, but we can bless and pray for them. This is true love. This is becoming perfect like Christ, who on the cross practiced what He preached not only in deed but also in His final breath “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Although this is a hard lesson with the help of the Holy Spirit we must try to be perfect as He is.

Daily Prayer

Not by my strength but by Yours. Let Your love be the essence of my life.

Friday 16^th November

Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:34-40 

I remember coming home from a family retreat to spring harvest a few years back, memorising the words of Jesus taught to me by the Kings Kids leader. “Do to others what you want them to do to you”. I fervently kept this up as best I could for ….5 days. Then I hurt someone, said something cruel and acted in a typically selfish manner.  Looking back now I realise that that was one of the most important lessons ever taught to me. I would like to say that I did try to live by this “Golden Rule”. Although yes, many times I stumbled and treated people in a manner that is much rather the opposite of this command, it proved a worthy gob-stopper on many occasions.

However, notice that this is a positive ‘doing’ command. Throughout history many people have turned this into a ‘negative’. For example “don’t do to others what would make you angry if they did it back”. This encourages passivity, whereas Jesus’ command is a positive ‘doing’ command. This is were I went wrong. Rather than not doing things or saying things to upset people, my focus should have been serving and building others up in Christ’s love.

In fact Jesus in Matthew 7:12 not only gives this command but summarises the whole Hebrew Bible in one sentence. He is saying something radical here and of great importance. (That is not to say that the Hebrew Bible is not important. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it). Moreover, the Hebrew Bible for all Jews was and is, so important as many children and adults read the Torah everyday, memorising portions of it and meditating upon those words. So when Jesus says that this command is the Law (The Torah) and the Prophets, it should cause the reader and hearer to stand up and pay attention, both in His time and in the present day.

In Matthew 22 Jesus is tested by the Pharisees in highlighting the greatest commandment of all. Jesus in all His wisdom summaries the Hebrew Bible by giving 2 commands this time. ‘Love God with everything within you and love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus’ wise answer really does summarise the Law. If we love God and love others we are not only being obedient but also showing Gods love to others. In order to love God and love others, first we must pray for God to increase our capacity to receive His love, to love Him and to love ourselves (not vanity); For Jesus commands to love others as ourselves. If we do not see ourselves as God sees us, then we cant love others or ourselves. Then in turn we cannot do unto others and we would have them do to us.

                  A simple equation to remind ourselves of this Golden Rule

             “Receive Gods Love – Love God – Love ourselves – Love others”

Thursday 15^th November

Matthew 7:7-11 (Luke 11:9-13)

‘Prayer without ceasing, giving thanks always’

Following on from Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus adds this valuable lesson of persistence in prayer. Ask, Seek and Knock are the pro-active doings words Jesus uses to encourage the believer. Jesus says in verse 7 that if we ask we will receive, if we seek we will find and if we knock the door will be open. He repeats this again in verse 8 highlighting the importance of what He is trying to say.

Jesus again gives a practical example of asking and receiving by using a child and father relationship. Jesus often uses parenthood to explain His relationship with us His children. So in verse 9 – 10 Jesus questions if a child were to ask for bread or fish would a father give a stone or snake? Luke adds an egg and scorpion to this analogy. The answer to Jesus’ question is obviously no if the father truly loves his son. A good father wants the best for child.

Jesus then gives a reality check to the believer. He says that if we being sinful (evil in Luke) are able to give good gifts, how much more will our Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask of Him. Jesus’ focus here is not of our sinful state but rather about how generous a Father He is, to His beloved children. When we realise how much God loves us and wants the best for us, we can enter His presence boldly and trust that what we ask for in accordance with His will, will be given. Remember, Jesus said that He gives good gifts to those who ask. That sometimes might not be what we deem or want to be our good gift but the Father knows what His children need.

Luke’s gospel in chapter 11 verse 13 gives the most precious good gift of all. Jesus says that The Holy Spirit is His good gift to those who ask. Amen. In fact it’s not a good gift but a great gift. The Comforter, Healer, and Counselor is just a prayer away.

A thought; The Fathers gifts are so great that they keep on giving back to us. What do I mean? If I were to give bread to my child it would run out after he had finished eating it. When Jesus promised that He would give the Holy Spirit to His children, it was not a one off perishable gift but a gift that keeps on giving. The Holy Spirits gives Spiritual gifts, graces us with fruit, open our hearts to see and receive Jesus Christ, helps us in understanding Gods word and the list goes on.. The Fathers gifts are truly not just good but great and always are for His glory.

Daily Prayer

Lord let me ask of You, seek You and knock after You. For every good and perfect gift come from Your kind and gracious Heart. Increase our faith so we may glorify You in our giving and receiving. Amen

Wednesday 14th November

Matthew 6:25-34 

Jesus continues in verse 30 with this encouraging statement “And if God so wonderfully cares for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you”(NLT). How great it is to know that our Heavenly cares intently for our every need. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. In verse 31 and 32 Jesus issues and strong warning to His disciples. He tells them that worrying about physical needs and daily provisions is what Gentiles (unbelievers) do. In modern day terms worrying is Practical Atheism. Why… because Jesus clearly states at the end of verse 32 that He already knows what we need before we even ask. In other words if we worry about what we will eat, drink and wear we are saying that we don’t have enough faith to believe that our God is our Almighty Father that supplies us with our every need. In fact Jesus uses the statement ‘O you of little faith’. We are to put our trust in our Almighty Father and know that He will look after His children.

Jesus in verse 33 takes it one step further. He encourages the disciples not to even think of worldly material possessions but rather to seek God’s Kingdom (His salvation) and live righteously before Him and God will take care of everything else. Robert H. Mounce in his commentary on Matthew rightly states that “Instead of nervous anxiety about those basic physical necessities that God in His providence is perfectly able to supply….” we must “…seek God’s Kingdom and that righteousness of life that demonstrates obedience to His divine will.” Simply put, don’t focus on what you have or don’t have, but rather focus on Jesus and bringing glory to His Name. God will take care of the rest. That is His promise to us; it is His own words. A preacher once said that when you are going through a hard time not follow your emotions but rather stand firm and fast on God’s unchanging, infallible, inherent WORD OF GOD. For in it there you will find the strength to get you through your situation and realise it’s not about you and your needs but about who God is and what we can give to Him.

Jesus issues a final warning in verse 34 and tells us one final time. Do not worry about tomorrow. He didn’t say that our lives would be without problems but instead we must increase our faith to rely on Him daily. We may not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future in His Hands. 

Daily Prayer

Lord I pray for those without, that You in Your grace will provide for them. I thank You that You have given me all I need in the world. Lord I thank You far more for the provision of Your Son Jesus Christ who has paid my price for my sin and shame that I may forever have an eternal relationship with You. Let me not seek after material possessions but seek after Your will in my life so I may bring glory to Your Name. Amen