The War of the Kingdom

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

He then focuses on How we live, our MORALITY, within this Kingdom. Morality begins internally not outwardly.

Chapter 6 discusses how we are to WORSHIP and He gives 3 areas, prayer, fasting, and giving.

The section I want to deal with today has to do with the War in this Kingdom and the enemy in this Kingdom will surprise you.

Before we get there, the law is good, the law is holy, the law is necessary. But to simplify the law, Jesus gave the scribes and Pharisee’s not a single outward law but an inward action that would drive the outward law.

Jesus said the greatest of all the commandments is

Matthew 22:37–40 (KJV 1900)

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

How do we know when we love God with all of our heart?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV 1900)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When you are saved, and unite under the Christian Flag of the New Kingdom, things change. No longer are we focused on the outward appearance but on the inward attitude.

God doesn’t change the outside at salvation, but rather creates a new you on the inside.

If we submit to the Christ in us, then the outside will be conformed into His image.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV 1900)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So, our goal is to submit to that inward transformation in order that it might be lived outwardly as salt and light in order that we might influence a lost and dying world.

This radical change takes place in what we call our heart, which Paul refers to as be controlled by our mind.

Romans 12:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If we love something with all our heart, we are speaking in terms of the investment of your life that is driven by your motives, your attitudes, and your thought patterns in life.

Our heart is supposed to be motivated and lived out by our love for God.

So, when determining the love our life or the focus of our heart we can ask,

What preoccupies my life?

What controls my focus, time?

What do you spend most of your time thinking about?

Most of your time planning?

Most of your energy is dispensed toward what particular object?

Jesus is testing your heart condition.

So he goes through the areas of worship and we think we love the Lord our God with all of our heart but we go to the Word of God Jesus Christ to not look at our church attendance, or, public prayer, or offering that you gave, but we look at the attitude that produced this fruit.

And Jesus says,

Matthew 6:19–20 (KJV 1900)

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Matthew 6:21 (KJV 1900)

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Notice, he focuses on treasures.

Now, we that are spiritual, I am being sarcastic, look at the treasures of our life as be blessings from God. Right?

Are blessings revealed materially or spiritually?

The Pharisees, which were considered the spiritual elite, thought the way most of us tend to think which was reflected in the way they lived.

To them wealth was to be holy, to be rich was to say, hey, look how much I have acquired, God is blessing me, I’m rich because God is saying, you’re so righteous I’m giving it all to you.

Where did this thinking come from?

Deuteronomy 28:1–6 (KJV 1900)

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Now notice this, according to the Old Testament, all the blessings were material blessings, physical, tangible, visible, earthly blessings.

God says you obey Me, you hearken to my voice, and I will bless you every where you are and everything you are involved, visibly, tangibly, materially and physically.

However, material poverty was considered a cursing because of disobedience.

Deuteronomy 28:15 (KJV 1900)

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

The leading religionists, scribes and pharisees, of the day of Jesus had the same problem. They were totally consumed with things.

They were thing oriented, they were greedy, they were hoarding, they were covetous, they were manipulative, and they moved toward the accumulation of more things.

Remember, last week, they were trying to move the Standard and Jesus is reestablishing the boundaries. And Jesus directs some statements about things, to the Pharisees who were abusing this whole matter of possessions.

Now, before we get into this this morning I want you to notice

1 John 2:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Then John goes on to explain where this love of the world comes from.

1 John 2:16 (KJV 1900)

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:15-16

Lust of the flesh - deals with wealth and WANTS.

Begins with Desire

Lust of the eyes - deals with WISDOM and perception.

Deliberating we then start thinking and deliberating.

Pride of life - deals with WORSHIP and authority.

Deifying (make it our God and our consumed by it.)

So Jesus, in this section of His sermon Jesus deals with things, mainly speaking of the luxuries of life. Then if we are confused, he will deal with the necessities of life next.

In dealing with this heart condition, our eyes are the gateway to our heart and our worship.

Matthew 6:19–24 (KJV 1900)

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Wealth = Treasuries

Desire = Lust of the Flesh

Matthew 6:19–20 (KJV 1900)

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Treasures = θησαυροὺς - Thesaurus - a treasury of words.

Treasure = means, treasure not up treasures. Don’t stockpile if you want it in a simple sense, The idea of the word treasure is to place something someplace, to stick it somewhere, to stash it somewhere.

So, Jesus contrasts 2 areas of wealth or treasures.

An Earthly Treasury

Earthly Treasures have the idea of not the necessities we use and need in everyday life, but the luxury items.

Not the things which we use to meet the needs of our own life, our family, the poor, the Lord, for setting aside money for the future, or for making wise investments that we may be better stewards of God’s money in days to come.

Jesus does not and is not condemning possessions.

Acts 4:34–35 (KJV 1900)

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Ananias wasn’t killed over possessions but by lying.

Acts 5:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

God does not withhold from us.

God is a very generous God.

From Genesis to Revelation, we see where God gives physically with possessions.

So, What is Jesus forbidding?

What is the treasures of treasures?

Jesus is not talking about what we have, Jesus is talking about our attitude toward what we have.

Now listen,

it is right to seek needed things,

it is right to provide for my family,

it is right to plan for the future,

it is right to make wise investments,

it is right to help the poor,

it is right to have enough to carry on my business,

However,

it is wrong to be greedy,

it is wrong to be covetous,

and we come right back to the motive again, if I am doing this to use it to the glory of God in the life of those around me and in His kingdom then I have a right to all of it, but if I am gaining it to stockpile it and to hoard it and to keep it and to amass it to indulge myself in it that is sin.

The idea of the Greek word here is that we not pile up what we don’t need and don’t plan to use.

The issue is not in what you have but in what you do with what you have.

So, don’t stock pile things on earth, but rather stock pile

An Heavenly Treasury

Matthew 6:20 (KJV 1900)

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Heavenly treasures are gained by investing earthly treasures in the lives of people.

Being salt in peoples lives.

Giving light in dark places.

The Jews believed and practiced deeds of mercy and deeds of kindness as ways to store treasure in heaven.

Proverbs 11:24 (KJV 1900)

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (KJV 1900)

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Laying up in store = treasuring up treasures for yourself.

Mark 10:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

If you will study your Bible, you will discover that this is the only individual in the Bible that God told to sell what he has. The purpose was to check his heart. And he walked away heartbroken.

Determination of Earthly or Heavenly

How do we determine if our treasure, possessions, are earthly or heavenly?

Matthew 6:21 (KJV 1900)

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

When you look at your possessions,

Are your possessions for you or for Jesus?

That’s the real issue.

Where is your heart?

It’s where your treasury of treasure is, wherever you put your investment, time and energy, is where you’re going to put your heart.

The Lust of the Flesh or Earthly Treasures will lead to wanting or desiring.

Wisdom = Eyes

Deliberation = The Lust of the Eyes

Matthew 6:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

When Jesus speaks of the eye, he is not talking about the eye of the body, but rather the light of the soul.

The eye of the soul is driven by the eye in our body.

Physical sight is driven by Spiritual sight.

Your physical eye as an illustration because it’s your physical eye that lets in the light. It’s the light that enables you to see. And so, what our Lord is talking about is the single eye and the sinful eye.

Single Eye = light

Single Eye is a healthy eye, a focused eye.

Your eye is the window to the body. Everything you perceive in this world comes through your eyes to give you understanding.

Jesus gives a tremendous principle. He takes a physical illustration and He says that the eye is like a window, if that window is clean and clear the light floods the body, if the window is blacked out no light enters. Jesus takes a physical illustration and once again turns it into a spiritual metaphor.

Matthew 6:22 (KJV 1900)

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

The root word for single, some translations have healthy, but it means generous.

James uses the same word translated Liberally.

James 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Paul uses the same word translated Simplicity.

Romans 12:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

If your heart is generous, you will have wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:2 (KJV 1900)

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Philippians 3:13 (KJV 1900)

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Sinful Eye = darkness

Matthew 6:23 (KJV 1900)

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What is a sinful eye?

If your eye is dark it is black, there’s no light that comes in you perceive nothing.

If your eye is not focused, you have double or blurred vision.

It is one thing to know you are in darkness and you can’t see.

It is downright dangerous when an individual that thinks they can see when they can’t.

Remember the book of Judges?:

Judges 17:6 (KJV 1900)

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 15:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Proverbs 23:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Don’t eat or take anything from a greedy person.

Proverbs 28:22 (KJV 1900)

22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

You hurry to be rich and you will be ungenerous, grudging and selfish, that’s the contrast.

If you are feeding the flesh and focused on the flesh you will never be able to understand spiritual things.

Proverbs 9:10 KJV 1900

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Our flesh and eyes will determine what we worship.

Worship = Masters

Deify = Pride of Life

Matthew 6:24 (KJV 1900)

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

doulos = bond slave.

Slavery by definition means single ownership and full time service.

A slave was not a person a slave was a thing, a slave had no rights, a master could beat a slave, kill a slave, sell a slave.

A slave was a living tool, no different than a plow or a cow or anything else.

A slave was a thing.

To be a bond slave, to be the property of a master was to be constantly, totally, entirely, 100% devoted to obedience to that one master, it would be utterly impossible to express that to two different masters.

Therefore, you cannot be a slave of 2 masters, for which one will you obey.

God and money are diametrically opposite.

God demands we walk by faith.

Money represented of the world demands we walk by sight.

God calls for humility.

The World calls for pride.

God says set your affections above.

The World says set your affections of earth.

God calls you to worry for nothing.

The World wants you anxious and concerned.

Now,

Is your love really for God and Others or is your love for self?

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