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The Sermon on the Mount
Overview
[Even though Jesus pulled from various aspects of the OT books the main form of this sermon is modeled after psalm 15…
Psa 15:1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Psa 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Psa 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Psa 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
Psa 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Also, we see this discourse as a direct contrast to his anger in chapter 23 of Matthew. In Matthew 23 we read about “the 8 contrasts, or woes”…
* CASUISTRY, n. The science or doctrine of cases of conscience; the science of resolving cases of doubtful propriety, or of determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do, by rules and principles drawn from the scriptures, from the laws of society, or from equity and natural reason.]
Matthew 5
Mat 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him,
Mat 5:2 and he began to teach them:
Mat 5:3 “Blessed [HAPPY] are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth. Psa. 37:11
Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied. Isa. 55:1-2
Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God. Ps. 24:3-5
Psa 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Psa 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psa 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Mat 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.
Mat 5:13 “You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 5:14 “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.
Mat 5:15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
The Kingdom and Laws –
Mat 5:17 “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses’ Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to fulfill…
fulfill from – play-ro’-o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: – accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
This is the first of 15 references to the Law by Jesus. However, what did Jesus fulfill? Notice he says “Moses teachings or the prophets”. The LAW did not come from the prophets so what he is fulfilling is simply the prophecies of his coming. His coming was to teach and explain the Law. As he says he did not come to abolish the Law.
OT Prophecies fulfilled in Matthew
Which of the prophets did he fulfill? There are many. For example in the book of Matthew these particular prophecies were fulfilled from the OT writings…
Mat 1:1 The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the son of Abraham:
Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and act wisely, and He shall do justice and righteousness in the earth.
Mat 1:23 “Behold! The virgin will conceive in her womb and will bear a son, and they will call His name Emmanuel” (which translated is, God with us). Isa. 7:14
Isa 7:14 So, The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold! The virgin will conceive and will bring forth a son; and she shall call His name Immanuel.
Mat 2:6 Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. A leader will come from you. He will shepherd my people Israel.”
Mic 5:2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.
Mic 5:3 The LORD will abandon Israel only until this ruler is born, and the rest of his family returns to Israel.
Mat 2:18 “A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted because they were dead.”
Jer 31:15 This is what the LORD says: A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are dead.
Mat 8:17 so that it might be fulfilled that spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took upon Himself our weaknesses, and bore our sicknesses.” Isa. 53:4
Isa 53:4 He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we thought that God had wounded him, beat him, and punished him.
Isa 53:5 He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.
Mat 12:18 “Behold My Child whom I chose, My Beloved, in whom My soul has delighted! I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will declare judgment to the nations.
Mat 12:19 He will not strive nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
Mat 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, until He bring forth judgment to victory.” Isa. 42:1-3
Mat 12:21 “And the nations will hope in His name.” Isa. 42:1-4
Isa 42:1 Behold My Servant; I will uphold Him; My Elect in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring forth justice to the nations.
Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised reed He shall not break, and a smoking wick He shall not quench; He shall bring forth justice to truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be crushed until He has set justice in the earth; and the coasts shall wait for His Law.
Mat 13:14 And the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled on them, which says, “In hearing you will hear and in no way understand, and seeing you will see yet in no way perceive.
Isa 6:9 And He said, Go and say to this people, Hearing you hear, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know.
Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make his ears heavy, and shut his eyes, that he not see with his eyes, and hear with his ears, and understand with his heart, and turn back, and one heals him.
Mat 17:5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a radiant cloud overshadowed them. And, behold, a voice out of the cloud saying, This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have been delighting; hear Him. Psa. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Isa. 42:1; Deut. 18:15
Psa 2:7 I will declare concerning the statute of Jehovah: He said to Me, You are My Son. Today I have begotten You.
Isa 42:1 Behold My Servant; I will uphold Him; My Elect in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring forth justice to the nations.
Mat 21:5 “Tell the people of Zion, ‘Your king is coming to you. He’s gentle, riding on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.'”
Zec 9:9 Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion! Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you: He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and rides on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.
Mat 22:44 “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit off My right until I should put Your hostile ones as a footstool for Your feet?” LXX-Psa. 109:1; MT-Psa. 110:1
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. A declaration of Jehovah to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool.
Mat 26:15 said, What will you give to me, and I will deliver Him up to you? “And they weighed to him thirty silver pieces.” Zech. 11:12
Mat 27:9 Then what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true, “They took the 30 silver coins, the price the people of Israel had placed on him,
Mat 27:10 and used the coins to buy a potter’s field, as the Lord had directed me.”
Zec 11:12 And I said to them, If it is good in your eyes, give My price; and if not, let it go. And they weighed My price, thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And Jehovah said to Me, Throw it to the potter, the magnificent price at which I was valued by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it to the potter in the house of Jehovah.
Mat 26:21 While they were eating, he said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me.”
Mat 26:22 Feeling deeply hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you, Lord?”
Mat 26:23 Jesus answered, “Someone who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
Psa 41:7 Everyone who hates me whispers about me. They think evil things about me and say,
Psa 41:8 “A devilish disease has attached itself to him. He will never leave his sickbed.”
Psa 41:9 Even my closest friend whom I trusted, the one who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Psa 55:12 My enemies are not the ones who sneer and make fun. I could put up with that or even hide from them.
Psa 55:13 But it was my closest friend, the one I trusted most.
Psa 55:14 We enjoyed being together, and we went with others to your house, our God.
Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, You said it. I tell you more. From this time you shall see the Son of Man sitting off the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heaven. Psa. 110:1; Dan. 7:13
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. A declaration of Jehovah to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool.
Dan 7:13 I was looking in the night visions. And behold! One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of the heavens. And He came to the Ancient of Days. And they brought Him near before Him.
Mat 27:35 And having crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting a lot, that might be fulfilled that spoken by the prophet, “They divided My garments to themselves, and they cast a lot over My clothing.” Psa. 22:18
Psa 22:17 I can count all my bones. People stare. They gloat over me.
Psa 22:18 They divide my clothes among themselves. They throw dice for my clothing.
Mat 27:48 And at once, one of them running and taking a sponge, and filling it with “vinegar,” put it on a reed and “gave drink to Him.” Psa. 69:21
Psa 69:21 They also gave Me gall in My food; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani; that is, “My God, My God, why did You forsake Me?” Psa. 22:1
Psa 22:1 To the Chief Musician, on the deer of the dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me, and are far from My deliverance, from the words of My groaning?
(continuing)….
Mat 5:18 I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses’ Teachings before everything has come true.
Mat 5:19 So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder –
Mat 5:21 “You have heard [in the public reading by Moses] that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.’ Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Deu 5:17 Thou shalt not kill.
Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother (without a cause) shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [worthless], shall be in danger of the council [Sanhedrin]: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire [Gehenna – the place of burning the town’s trash].
[A brother without a cause in Israel was a proselyte (converted) that was not a true Israelite.]
Mat 5:23 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you,
Mat 5:24 leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.
Mat 5:25 “Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.
Mat 5:26 I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.
Adultery –
Mat 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Never commit adultery.’ Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Deu 5:18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Mat 5:28 But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.
ADULTERY –
In a scriptural sense, all manner of lewdness or unchastity, as in the seventh commandment.
In scripture, idolatry, or apostasy from the true God.
LEWD –
Given to the unlawful indulgence of lust; addicted to fornication or adultery; dissolute; lustful; libidinous.
LUST –
Concupiscence; carnal appetite; unlawful desire of carnal pleasure.
CONCUPISCENCE –
Lust; unlawful or irregular desire of sexual pleasure.
[THE LAWS THAT DEFINE THESE TERMS ARE IN LEVITICUS 18]
Mat 5:29 “So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.
Mat 5:31 “It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.
Mat 5:32 But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery. Dt. 24:1, Jer 3:6-8
Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
Deu 24:3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Deu 24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Jer 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Jer 3:7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Perjury –
Mat 5:33 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.’ Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2
Lev 19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
Lev 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Mat 5:34 But I tell you don’t swear an oath at all. Don’t swear an oath by heaven, which is God’s throne,
Mat 5:35 or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. Isa. 66:1; Psa. 48:2
Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Psa 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 And don’t swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white.
Mat 5:37 Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.
Retaliation –
Mat 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Lev 24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
Deu 19:21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Mat 5:39 But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well.
Law 299 –
[Jewish code – “He who inflicts a bodily injury shall pay monetary compensation”.]
[Torah Law -“If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed. (Exodus 21:18-19)
[The spirit of restitution—as opposed to punishment—drives this precept (with restitution the injured gets paid. With today’s Civil laws the State, lawyers, judges, etc. all get a cut). The “winner” of the fight has to see to it that his adversary is not financially disadvantaged. He must pay the “loser’s” salary and medical expenses until the man is fully recovered. The worse you hurt him, the more expensive it’s going to be. Yahweh doesn’t seem to care who started it, or why. He wants us to love each other, not get into fistfights. So He arranged it so that even if you win, you lose. This is not a call for mindless pacifism, however. There are times when fighting might be necessary and appropriate.]
Mat 5:40 If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too.
Mat 5:41 If someone forces (compels as in work) you to go one mile, go two miles with him.
Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Mat 5:42 Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
Love –
Mat 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ Lev. 19:18
[It was never WRITTEN hate your enemy. It was said. Who said it?]
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Mat 5:44 But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
Mat 5:45 In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust.
Mat 5:46 If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that!
Mat 5:47 Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that!
Mat 5:48 That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Deut 18:13
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
Psa 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Matthew 6
Mat 6:1 “Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you.
Almsgiving –
Mat 6:2 So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Mat 6:3 When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Mat 6:4 Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
Prayer –
Mat 6:5 “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
[Like people with signs on street corners]
Mat 6:6 When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
Mat 6:7 “When you pray, don’t use vain repitions like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot.
Mat 6:8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mat 6:9 “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy.
Mat 6:10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
[1. These directed to God.
2. This is directed and proclaimed to show his kingdom is coming.]
Mat 6:11 Give us our daily bread today.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from evil (or the evil one).
Mat 6:14 “If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Mat 6:15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures.
[1. These directed to humans.
2. This is the first stated prayer given for us to pray]
Fasting –
Mat 6:16 “When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Mat 6:17 When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair.
Mat 6:18 Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. Is. 58
Isa 58:5 Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen? Should people humble themselves for only a day? Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call fasting? Is this an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6 This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: Loosen the chains of wickedness, untie the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.
Isa 58:7 Share your food with the hungry, take the poor and homeless into your house, and cover them with clothes when you see them naked. Don’t refuse to help your relatives.
Isa 58:8 Then your light will break through like the dawn, and you will heal quickly. Your righteousness will go ahead of you, and the glory of the LORD will guard you from behind.
Isa 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am!” Get rid of that yoke. Don’t point your finger and say wicked things.
Isa 58:10 If you give some of your own food to feed those who are hungry and to satisfy the needs of those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark, and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.
Isa 58:11 The LORD will continually guide you and satisfy you even in sun-baked places. He will strengthen your bones. You will become like a watered garden and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.
[To “fast” – A primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), that is, to fast.
To “afflict” (afflictions) – To give to the body or mind pain which is continued or of some permanence; to grieve, or distress; as, one is afflicted with the gout, or with melancholy, or with losses and misfortunes.
[Talmudic rule fasting as in Yom Kippur verses Day of Atonement to afflict your soul. We are too feel other people’s pains or afflictions not simply fast without understanding the meaning of it]
On Riches –
Mat 6:19 “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.
Mat 6:20 Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.
Mat 6:21 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
Mat 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be!
[This is a Heḇrew idiom – a good eye means to be generous, while an evil eye means to be stingy.]
Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.
On Cares –
Mat 6:25 “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?
Mat 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Mat 6:27 “Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?
Mat 6:28 “And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes.
Mat 6:29 But I say that not even Solomon [Schlomo] in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers.
Mat 6:30 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? [Or those that do not have the Word in their thoughts]
Mat 6:31 “Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’
Mat 6:32 Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them.
Mat 6:33 But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
Mat 6:34 “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 7
Mat 7:1 “Stop judging so that you will not be judged.
Mat 7:2 Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.
Mat 7:3 So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.
Mat 7:6 “Don’t give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.
[Trying to explain the Word to God haters]
Mat 7:7 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Mat 7:8 Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Mat 7:9 “If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?
Mat 7:11 Even though you may do bad things, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
Mat 7:12 “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.
Mat 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate.
Mat 7:14 But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble [afflictions]. Only a few people find the narrow gate.
Mat 7:15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will know them by what they produce. “People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they?
Mat 7:17 In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire.
Mat 7:20 So you will know them by what they produce.
Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’
Mat 7:23 Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’ [Those working lawlessness] Psa. 6:8
Psa 6:8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Mat 7:24 “Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock.
Mat 7:25 Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock.
Mat 7:26 “Everyone who hears what I say but doesn’t obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand.
Mat 7:27 Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster.”
Mat 7:28 When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings.
Mat 7:29 Unlike their scribes, he taught them with [DIVINE] authority.
[Jewish teachers always referred to tradition, or to what some other teacher had said, and still do so this day.]
The Sermon on the Plain
Luk 6:13 And when it became day, He called His disciples, also choosing out twelve from them, whom He also named apostles:
Luk 6:14 Simon, whom He also named Peter; and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Luk 6:15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alpheus, and Simon, the one being called Zealot;
Luk 6:16 Judas brother of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became the betrayer.
Luk 6:17 And coming down with them, He stood on a level place. And a crowd of His disciples, and a great multitude of the people were there from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coast country of Tyre and Sidon. These came to hear Him, and to be healed from their diseases,
Luk 6:18 also those who had been tormented by unclean spirits. And they were healed.
Luk 6:19 And all the crowd sought to touch Him, because power went out from Him and healed all.
Luk 6:20 And lifting up His eyes to His disciples, He said: Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Isa. 11:4
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth
Luk 6:21 Blessed are those hungering now, for you will be filled. Blessed are those weeping now, for you will laugh.
Luk 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they cut you off, and will reproach you, and will cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man;
Luk 6:23 rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is much in Heaven! For their fathers did according to these things to the prophets.
Luk 6:24 But woe to you, rich ones, for you have your comfort!
Luk 6:25 Woe to you, those having been filled, for you will hunger! Woe to you, those laughing now, for you will mourn and lament!
Luk 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did according to these things to the false prophets.
Luk 6:27 But I say to you, Those hearing: Love the ones hostile to you, do good to those hating you,
Luk 6:28 bless those cursing you and pray for those insulting you.
Luk 6:29 To those striking you on the cheek, turn the other also. And from those taking your garment, do not keep back the tunic also.
Luk 6:30 And to everyone asking you, give. And do not ask back from those taking your things.
Luk 6:31 And according as you desire that men should do to you, you also do the same to them.
Luk 6:32 And if you love those who love you, what thanks is there to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
Luk 6:33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks is there to you? For even the sinners do the same.
Luk 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks is there to you? For the sinners lend to sinners so that they may receive the equal things.
Luk 6:35 But love the ones hostile to you, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be much; and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and evil ones.
Luk 6:36 Therefore, be merciful, even as your Father also is merciful.
Luk 6:37 Judge not, and in no way be judged. Do not condemn, and in no way you will be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luk 6:38 Give, and good measure will be given to you, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, they will give into your bosom. For the same measure which you measure, it will be measured back to you.
Luk 6:39 And He spoke a parable to them: A blind one is not able to guide a blind one. Will they not both fall into the ditch?
Luk 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who has been perfected will be like his teacher.
Luk 6:41 But why do you look on the chip in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the beam in your own eye?
Luk 6:42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, allow me to take out the chip in your eye, not yourself seeing the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the chip in your brother’s eye.
Luk 6:43 For there is not a good tree that produces bad fruit, nor a bad tree that produces good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For each tree is known from its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
Luk 6:45 The good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart. And the evil man brings forth evil out of the evil treasure of his heart, for his mouth speaks out of the abundance of his heart.
Luk 6:46 And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?
Luk 6:47 Everyone coming to Me and hearing My Words, and doing them, I will show you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and deepened, and laid a foundation on the rock. And a flood having occurred, the stream burst against that house and could not shake it, for it had been founded on the rock.
Luk 6:49 But he who heard and did not perform, he is like a man having built his house on the earth without a foundation, on which the stream burst, and it immediately fell; and the ruin of that house was great.