September 29-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:29-30, If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Observe what it is saying.
In the context of Jesus’ talk about lusting and adultery, He speaks with hyperbole about how to deal with such ungodliness. First, he speaks with such exaggerated language to emphasize the severity of the sin. In this scenario, it is far better to lose a part of yourself than for your total being to go to hell. Second, Jesus was saying we need to do drastic spiritual surgery so that we do not continue to go unchecked in this pattern of sin into eternal judgment. Do what you have to do to change your thoughts and your behaviors. Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it becomes a sinful imagination. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with our thoughts. Therefore, what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance as we pursue God’s heart. Temporal pleasure lasts only for a moment. Eternal pleasure in the presence of God will never cease to delight us. In the strength of the Spirit, we need to decide to become like Jesus and live the holy life that embodies the pure ethic of His glorious kingdom.
Relate it to your life.
Sexual purity matters, as it separates me out as a member of God’s holy people.
Do something.
Jesus, by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to think pure thoughts and live such a holy life that brings honor and glory to Your hallowed name. Amen.
September 30-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:31-32, “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Observe what it is saying.
The Old Testament passage is Deuteronomy 24:1-4 which teaches that if a man divorces his wife because of "something indecent" in her, he must give her a certificate of divorce. The “something indecent” was not defined and was being used as an excuse for anything and everything for divorce. If she became another man's wife and is divorced again, the first man cannot remarry her. This double restriction in the Old Testament—the certificate and the prohibition of remarriage—discouraged hasty divorces. This arose out of the fact that the divorced woman will in most circumstances remarry, especially, in first-century Palestine, where this would probably be her only means of support. The new marriage, whether from the perspective of the divorcee or the one marrying her, is adulterous. Jesus listed one exception, sexual immorality, as a legitimate reason a person could get a divorce. He did not mandate that it should happen but said, in such a case, divorce was implicitly permitted. In a religious culture where marriage was not being treated as God intended it, Jesus spoke these words to correct what was being practiced and uphold the sanctity of sacred marriage among the people of God.
Relate it to your life.
God has a high and holy standard for marriage so it should not be entered into lightly and should be nurtured carefully.
Do something.
Jesus, help me to uphold your highest standard for marriage. I trust in Your grace to forgive me when I have failed to do so and have humbly repented of my sin. Amen.
October 1-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:33-37, “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Observe what it is saying.
Moses’ law forbade irreverent oaths, light use of the Lord's name, and broken vows. Once the Lord's name was invoked, the vow to which it was attached became a debt that had to be paid to the Lord. In the same way, Jesus is concerned about the Pharisees’ practice of swearing by something other than God himself to create a lesser degree of accountability. Examples are given of how these lesser objects are implicitly in God's name—heaven, earth, Jerusalem, even the hairs of the head are all under God's sway and ownership. So, Jesus does away with oaths that were designed to encourage truthfulness but became a practice for clever lies and deceit. So, if one does not swear at all, one does not swear falsely. The final verse might better be translated "But let your word be, `Yes, Yes; No, No.'" Such doubling emphasizes that your answer is true without the need of an oath. Jesus’ demands absolute truthfulness in His kingdom so any word or action that does not support total honesty must be eliminated.
Relate it to your life.
I am recognized as a participant in God’s kingdom by my integrity and truthfulness.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, let every word I speak be true. Let all of my ways be filled with integrity. May I represent Your kingdom well without any hint of deceit or dishonesty. Amen.
October 2-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:38-39a, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
Observe what it is saying.
The law of revenge (lex talionis) was a great legal advance in its day and was intended as a means of providing justice and purging evil from among God’s people. Deuteronomy 19:20-21, “The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” This meant justice was not dependent on a person’s ability to exact revenge, and the punishment did not exceed the crime. It was to be administered by civil authorities and courts to protect the public, to punish offenders, and to deter crime. Often these damages were translated into cash payments. Jesus went on to say that it is not the disciple’s responsibility to “resist the evil person.” Jesus does not call his disciples to ignore basic principles of justice. He does, however, call for an attitude that abolishes revenge; an attitude that does not assert its rights but puts the needs of others before one’s own. As difficult as it is, the kingdom of God calls on Christians to be different from those who make it their job to get even with others. Kingdom people are to be graceful even to those who appear to be their oppressors.
Relate it to your life.
Kingdom living calls me to go against my natural urge to get even and retaliate.
Do something.
Jesus, thank You that You have established laws and governments to enact and uphold justice in our world so I do not have to do so on my own. I pray that our local, state, and national justice systems will be fair and provide appropriate penalties for crimes done and protect the innocent. Amen.
October 3-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:39-41, If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Observe what it is saying.
To strike a person on the right cheek implied giving someone the back of the hand from a right-handed person. It is not so much the hurt as the insult that came with it because such a slap was a way of demeaning a person’s honor. The tunic was the basic garment, a long-sleeved inner robe similar to a nightshirt that a person wore next to the skin. It was often worn short by men and ankle length by the women. The “cloak” was the outer robe, which was an indispensable piece of clothing. When it was given as a pledge, it had to be returned before sunset, because it was used by the poor as a sleeping cover. Going the extra mile suggests the context of Roman soldiers conscripting Jewish civilians to carry their heavy packs for up to a “milion.” This Greek term means a “thousand paces,” which measures approximately 4,854 feet, just shy of a mile. Jesus said they should volunteer to double that distance. To go the extra mile is to go above and beyond. It is a saying and an attitude first commanded by Jesus for those who would dare to participate in His new kingdom ethic. In all of these examples, Jesus is revealing His kingdom is one of grace and generosity. It refuses to live at the lowest levels of society where so many dwell but gives a new vision for what the Jesus’ way will be in relating to various persons and situations.
Relate it to your life.
If I am going to do as Jesus did, then I will need to go above and beyond in my attitude towards others and do hard things that are not necessarily convenient for me.
Do something.
Jesus, Your way is radically different from the common mindset. Transform my mind and heart to be like Yours so that I can go above and beyond in all of my interactions with others. Amen.
October 4-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:42, Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Observe what it is saying.
Giving alms and loaning to the poor was a central tenet of Jewish piety. It is no surprise that Jesus widens the obligation by admonishing his disciples not to turn away the one who wants to borrow. This is a powerful image of generosity, because the one seeking a loan could be unscrupulous, even one’s enemy, who might not repay the loan. The Old Testament gives a low status to people who consistently seek loans and do not repay them. They obviously have a money management, if not, a character problem. To give freely to whoever seeks assistance, especially to those from whom there may be little chance of repayment, is the height of generosity. It goes against our sensibilities as we have worked hard for what we have. At the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry was His extravagant generosity as He gave His life away to people like us who do not deserve such radical grace.
Relate it to your life.
I must remember that all I have is a gift from God of which I am called to steward well and to freely offer to others for the sake of His kingdom and glory.
Do something.
Jesus, this is so challenging. I want to hold on to what I have. I want to give to those who appreciate it and use it well. Help me to be wise and free with how I care for all You have given to me. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:29-30, If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Observe what it is saying.
In the context of Jesus’ talk about lusting and adultery, He speaks with hyperbole about how to deal with such ungodliness. First, he speaks with such exaggerated language to emphasize the severity of the sin. In this scenario, it is far better to lose a part of yourself than for your total being to go to hell. Second, Jesus was saying we need to do drastic spiritual surgery so that we do not continue to go unchecked in this pattern of sin into eternal judgment. Do what you have to do to change your thoughts and your behaviors. Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it becomes a sinful imagination. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with our thoughts. Therefore, what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance as we pursue God’s heart. Temporal pleasure lasts only for a moment. Eternal pleasure in the presence of God will never cease to delight us. In the strength of the Spirit, we need to decide to become like Jesus and live the holy life that embodies the pure ethic of His glorious kingdom.
Relate it to your life.
Sexual purity matters, as it separates me out as a member of God’s holy people.
Do something.
Jesus, by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to think pure thoughts and live such a holy life that brings honor and glory to Your hallowed name. Amen.
September 30-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:31-32, “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Observe what it is saying.
The Old Testament passage is Deuteronomy 24:1-4 which teaches that if a man divorces his wife because of "something indecent" in her, he must give her a certificate of divorce. The “something indecent” was not defined and was being used as an excuse for anything and everything for divorce. If she became another man's wife and is divorced again, the first man cannot remarry her. This double restriction in the Old Testament—the certificate and the prohibition of remarriage—discouraged hasty divorces. This arose out of the fact that the divorced woman will in most circumstances remarry, especially, in first-century Palestine, where this would probably be her only means of support. The new marriage, whether from the perspective of the divorcee or the one marrying her, is adulterous. Jesus listed one exception, sexual immorality, as a legitimate reason a person could get a divorce. He did not mandate that it should happen but said, in such a case, divorce was implicitly permitted. In a religious culture where marriage was not being treated as God intended it, Jesus spoke these words to correct what was being practiced and uphold the sanctity of sacred marriage among the people of God.
Relate it to your life.
God has a high and holy standard for marriage so it should not be entered into lightly and should be nurtured carefully.
Do something.
Jesus, help me to uphold your highest standard for marriage. I trust in Your grace to forgive me when I have failed to do so and have humbly repented of my sin. Amen.
October 1-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:33-37, “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Observe what it is saying.
Moses’ law forbade irreverent oaths, light use of the Lord's name, and broken vows. Once the Lord's name was invoked, the vow to which it was attached became a debt that had to be paid to the Lord. In the same way, Jesus is concerned about the Pharisees’ practice of swearing by something other than God himself to create a lesser degree of accountability. Examples are given of how these lesser objects are implicitly in God's name—heaven, earth, Jerusalem, even the hairs of the head are all under God's sway and ownership. So, Jesus does away with oaths that were designed to encourage truthfulness but became a practice for clever lies and deceit. So, if one does not swear at all, one does not swear falsely. The final verse might better be translated "But let your word be, `Yes, Yes; No, No.'" Such doubling emphasizes that your answer is true without the need of an oath. Jesus’ demands absolute truthfulness in His kingdom so any word or action that does not support total honesty must be eliminated.
Relate it to your life.
I am recognized as a participant in God’s kingdom by my integrity and truthfulness.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, let every word I speak be true. Let all of my ways be filled with integrity. May I represent Your kingdom well without any hint of deceit or dishonesty. Amen.
October 2-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:38-39a, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
Observe what it is saying.
The law of revenge (lex talionis) was a great legal advance in its day and was intended as a means of providing justice and purging evil from among God’s people. Deuteronomy 19:20-21, “The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” This meant justice was not dependent on a person’s ability to exact revenge, and the punishment did not exceed the crime. It was to be administered by civil authorities and courts to protect the public, to punish offenders, and to deter crime. Often these damages were translated into cash payments. Jesus went on to say that it is not the disciple’s responsibility to “resist the evil person.” Jesus does not call his disciples to ignore basic principles of justice. He does, however, call for an attitude that abolishes revenge; an attitude that does not assert its rights but puts the needs of others before one’s own. As difficult as it is, the kingdom of God calls on Christians to be different from those who make it their job to get even with others. Kingdom people are to be graceful even to those who appear to be their oppressors.
Relate it to your life.
Kingdom living calls me to go against my natural urge to get even and retaliate.
Do something.
Jesus, thank You that You have established laws and governments to enact and uphold justice in our world so I do not have to do so on my own. I pray that our local, state, and national justice systems will be fair and provide appropriate penalties for crimes done and protect the innocent. Amen.
October 3-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:39-41, If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Observe what it is saying.
To strike a person on the right cheek implied giving someone the back of the hand from a right-handed person. It is not so much the hurt as the insult that came with it because such a slap was a way of demeaning a person’s honor. The tunic was the basic garment, a long-sleeved inner robe similar to a nightshirt that a person wore next to the skin. It was often worn short by men and ankle length by the women. The “cloak” was the outer robe, which was an indispensable piece of clothing. When it was given as a pledge, it had to be returned before sunset, because it was used by the poor as a sleeping cover. Going the extra mile suggests the context of Roman soldiers conscripting Jewish civilians to carry their heavy packs for up to a “milion.” This Greek term means a “thousand paces,” which measures approximately 4,854 feet, just shy of a mile. Jesus said they should volunteer to double that distance. To go the extra mile is to go above and beyond. It is a saying and an attitude first commanded by Jesus for those who would dare to participate in His new kingdom ethic. In all of these examples, Jesus is revealing His kingdom is one of grace and generosity. It refuses to live at the lowest levels of society where so many dwell but gives a new vision for what the Jesus’ way will be in relating to various persons and situations.
Relate it to your life.
If I am going to do as Jesus did, then I will need to go above and beyond in my attitude towards others and do hard things that are not necessarily convenient for me.
Do something.
Jesus, Your way is radically different from the common mindset. Transform my mind and heart to be like Yours so that I can go above and beyond in all of my interactions with others. Amen.
October 4-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:42, Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Observe what it is saying.
Giving alms and loaning to the poor was a central tenet of Jewish piety. It is no surprise that Jesus widens the obligation by admonishing his disciples not to turn away the one who wants to borrow. This is a powerful image of generosity, because the one seeking a loan could be unscrupulous, even one’s enemy, who might not repay the loan. The Old Testament gives a low status to people who consistently seek loans and do not repay them. They obviously have a money management, if not, a character problem. To give freely to whoever seeks assistance, especially to those from whom there may be little chance of repayment, is the height of generosity. It goes against our sensibilities as we have worked hard for what we have. At the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry was His extravagant generosity as He gave His life away to people like us who do not deserve such radical grace.
Relate it to your life.
I must remember that all I have is a gift from God of which I am called to steward well and to freely offer to others for the sake of His kingdom and glory.
Do something.
Jesus, this is so challenging. I want to hold on to what I have. I want to give to those who appreciate it and use it well. Help me to be wise and free with how I care for all You have given to me. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals