Worship Call 0409 The matters of the heart

sometimes its hard to understand adversity -- but there's a purpose! Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I suppose one of the hardest questions to answer is: "Why do I have to deal with so much adversity?!" Quite honestly, one of the best answers I've ever come across was written by C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity. Lewis likened God's use of adversity to walking a dog. If the dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the owner are after the same end: forward motion. But the owner must resist the dog by pulling him opposite of the direction that he wants to go. The master, sharing the same intention, but understanding better than the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely opposite to that of the dog's will. It is in this way that God uses adversity! We really don't like being pulled and corrected by the Lord -- but when we understand there's a greater purpose involved, then we can pass through adversity with hope, expectation and steadfastness knowing these events are for our greater good! Robert, let's learn from the trials and tribulations we go through because God has a purpose in them. We may not enjoy it, but when all's said and done, enduring trials faithfully will produce perseverance, character, and hope. And hope will not disappoint us for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit...[Romans 5:4-5] We truly can trust in the God who loves us with an everlasting love because He knows the direction we need to go, AND He knows exactly how to get us there! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, & Obadiah (Elianna is attending Christian College in Dallas) Dallas, Texas

And this is another fine day in the Lord!

Matthew 5:17–19 (NASB95) — 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Someone once asked me, “How do we know that that was Jesus compared to another which may show up on the scene today making claims that He was Jesus.

Well, what is this proposed newcomer doing to fulfill what was written about the Messiah and the Savior throughout the Old Testament. As far as Jesus goes what in the Old Testament does not point to Jesus. It is said that even fulfilling a couple of the prophecies which pointed to Jesus and by Jesus the odds are astronomical.

Pay attention to how many times Matthew writes

“Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophets”

Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23

And then we can compare many OT passages to how they were fulfilled in the New Testament.

Matthew 5:19 (NASB95) — 19 “Whoever then annuls (loose, unties,release) one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven;

It is said in Rabbinical traditions that Nicodemus who was a very wealthy man as a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin died a pulper. He became a last one type in this world apparently due to his conversion. In Those rabbinical schools that continue to reject Jesus of Nazareth of being the Messiah warns that what happened to Nicodemus will happen to others who will believe the same.

Matthew 5:20 (NASB95) — 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Outside appearances does not determine inside righteousness.

God does not look at the outward man which the best of us could never produce the righteousness that is required to live with God forever.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB95) — 7 But the Lordsaid to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.”

Luke 16:15 (NASB95) — 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

Luke 18:11–12 (NASB95) — 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

And what does God see when he looks at the heart of man?

Isaiah 64:6 (NASB95) — 6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

The Pharisees talked a good talked. They seemed to walk the good walk. They Functioned however under the Arrogant skills

1. Self-Justification

2. Self-deception

3. Self-absorption

They were so good at playing the role that they not only fooled others but also themselves.

There were those who sincerely thought to be accepted in the Kingdom that they would have to model the piety of the Pharisees.

But Jesus sheds light on the condition of the souls of many of the Pharisees and warns that to enter into the Kingdom of heaven one’s righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. This must have been a startling revelation to those who were depending upon their own do-goodism and moral code to get them into the kingdom.

There are those that continue to emphasis that the Christian is to live by the Mosaic Law. The fact is the Israelites could not live by their own law and to enforce such upon others who would come to know the Christ only will lead to discouragement.

The Mosaic Law governed the Nation Israel. It was not a spiritual Code.

It is not a spiritual code for the Christian living in any given geographical place around the world.

The Law that governs the residence of the Kingdom to come is the Law of the heart. the spiritual law.

Matthew 5:21–22 (NASB95) — 21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’

You have heard it said

The teachings of the Law, Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17

Murder is still Murder; nothing has changed and one who takes another man’s life his life shall also be taken. This is true in the Law of Moses, and it should be the Law with any given nation.

Six times in the sermon Jesus Says you have heard it said.

Jesus is rejecting the Pharisees traditions. You have heard it said, and you do not have no excuse, for the actions that you take.

Now Jesus directs the attention to the Heart

“But I say to you…”

The higher authority is now speaking. The judge who will sit upon the highest court in all of creation over the visible and invisible.

Jesus is the Word (1 John 1) He is the one who spoke the heavens and earth into existence, his word stands forever.

When Jesus speaks it is either; AMEN verily truly so let it be… or

Reject his word to one’s own condemnation

The Judge of the heavens and the earth is telegraphing the criteria by which one will be Judged.

Matthew 5:22 (NASB95) — 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

The Subject is the heart, let us bring to light the heart of the Pharisees.

22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;

56.30 κρίνωf; κρίσιςe, εως f; κρίμαd, τος n: to judge a person to be guilty and liable to punishment—‘to judge as guilty, to condemn, condemnation.’[1]

He will be guilty before the Judgment

Luke 6:11 (NASB95) — 11 But they themselves were filled with folly, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

And who ever says to his brother, You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court;

συνέδριονb, ου n: the highest Jewish council, exercising jurisdiction in civil and religious matters, but having no power over life and death or over military actions or taxation—‘Sanhedrin, the council of the Jews.’

That is even by their own standards a person is guilty.

It is these Pharisees that will stand before the cross with their mocking

Matthew 27:40–44 (NASB95) — 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 “He trusts in God; let God rescueHim now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

The Act of tearing down another one’s integrity or discrediting is the essences of telling another they are good for nothing.

The mockers who cast their insults up at the suffering Jesus was calling, Jesus good for nothing.

And if so…

Then so do the very one’s reject the salvation is offer for what Jesus accomplished on the cross to them were good for nothing and they will stand at the highest court before the Judge which they will recognize to receive their sentence.

The were essentially saying in their hearts

“Jesus, Your work means nothing. We reject your means of salvation!”

and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the cfiery hell.[2]

1.21 γέεννα, ης f: a place of punishment for the dead—‘Gehenna, hell[3]

Associated with a demonic place where the demons will be judged.

[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains(electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 555). United Bible Societies. [2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update(Mt 5:22). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [3]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains(electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 5). United Bible Societies.

Related Media

Related Sermons