Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 5:42 “Give to him who keeps on begging from you, and do not turn away from him who would borrow [at interest] from you.”

Deuteronomy 15:7 – 8 “If there is among you a poor man, one of your kinsmen in any of the towns of your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your [minds and ] hearts or close your hands to your poor brother; 8 But you shall open your hands wide to him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.”

It happened in Manhattan in 1982. My husband was walking across town when a man stopped him and gave him an improbable hard luck story, asking for $10 and promising to send repayment later. My husband’s first reaction was to refuse the request, but when he prayed, God told him to give the man the money. My husband gave the man the $10, and explained that the money was from God, so how the man used the money was now a matter between this man and God.

It happened in Tamale, Ghana just three days ago. We were passing through town and at every stop light the beggars were moving up and down the line of cars. What to do? Must we give to every single beggar in town every time? Must we hand out money each time somebody asks?

Sometimes these decisions are very difficult. And Jesus knew that very well. The fundamental law of the Kingdom of God is that the measure we give out is the measure that will come back to us. Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into the bosom. For with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others, it will be measured back to you.” First, we must recognize that the resources we have are gifts from God. Once we see our money and our possessions as something God has loaned us, it is much easier to let go and pass those things on to others.

A second question is the matter of qualification: what if we feel that someone is only going to waste our donation on drugs or alcohol? In such situations, it is vitally important to pray and to seek God’s guidance. The mark of the Holy Spirit is peace, and we pray frequently asking God to give us His peace about decisions. But if both of us feel a leading from the Holy Spirit, we will still give money.

Through the years, we have helped educate a number of students at various levels of schooling. Sometimes the school fees have hit at times when our bank balance was low; we have had to trust that God would be faithful to bring in the money needed at the right time. This August will mark 33 years since we first were accepted by a mission group. During all that time, not once has God failed to bring in funds when they were needed. We feel that as long as we keep passing the money along, God will keep sending it. But the day the money sticks to our fingers is the day that God will stop sending it. (Note: sometimes God’s timing is split – second! There have been times when the money has arrived just as things became desperate.)

We are children of a heavenly Father who sends blessings even though we don’t deserve them. Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, even though we did nothing to deserve such mercy. If we are to be true followers of Christ, we must also be willing to bless others, whether or not they seem worthy. At the same time, we also are to be good stewards of the resources God has given us. The only way that we can strike a balance is to continue to pray and ask for guidance.

PRAYER: Father God, we want to be good citizens of your heavenly Kingdom. But sometimes it is difficult to know when to help and when not to. Please guide us so that we will be channels of your love and grace to those around us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Matthew 5:38 – 41 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the evil man [who injures you]; but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, turn to him the other one too. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your undershirt (tunic), let him have your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].” (Much of today’s devotional material is taken from https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/what-does-it-mean-to-turn-the-other-cheek)

We live in an age where people become offended in the blink of an eye….and they treasure up these offenses and then vent on social media or go to court. The purpose of such actions is retaliation: punishing someone who has inflicted a hurt. Unfortunately, most times media posts and court cases only result in more damage. While social media did not exist in Jesus’ day, human nature has not changed since Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  What was Jesus talking about in these verses? Are we supposed to allow ourselves to be used as punching bags?

In Matthew 5:38 Jesus begins with a reference to the Old Testament legal principle of “an eye for an eye” found in Exodus 21:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21. The purpose of this Old Testament guideline was to place limits on legal punishment, and ensure that punishment for a crime committed not be more severe than the crime itself.

Matthew 5:39 begins by saying “do not resist evil.” The phrase “to resist” is from a Greek word that refers to standing up in opposition to, arguing with, or disputing with, as in a court case. So, the verse begins by advising us not to engage in legal disputes and quarrels with people even though they may be in the wrong. In other places, the New Testament clearly tells us to stand with firm resolve against evil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9; Ephesians 6:13). But entering into contentious disputations with evil people is advised against.

What about the striking on the cheek? Lightly striking a person on the right cheek using the back of your hand was a common form of insult in first-century Judea. We do not have to interpret Jesus’ teaching as telling us to respond to a violent punch in the face by asking for more. Jesus’ teaching is: don’t trade insults with your adversary, even if it means opening yourself up to more of their insults. No, you do not have to become a punching bag!

Jesus’ teaching is about diffusing conflict rather than allowing conflicts to escalate. He advocates we stop the cycle through a willingness to suffer wrong. This same principle is taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 (notice the legal setting once again). A never – ending exchange of insults becomes a feud, which has the potential to get worse and worse perhaps even to the point of violence!

What about taking a financial loss for the sake of peace? In Matthew 5:40 Jesus offers the example of a lawsuit where you might be required to provide a security deposit. In our modern society, this would be like posting bail. In the Jewish culture this security deposit would often be an article of clothing (a very valuable item in those days).

Then Jesus offers an additional example of civil obligations (Matthew 5:41). In those days a Roman soldier had a legal right to require a Jew to carry his backpack for a mile. As a resident in an area occupied by Rome it was part of your civic obligation. In both these cases the principle is to act more generously than the law requires, and to go above and beyond the minimum requirements to create peace with those who might otherwise be your enemies.

Peace and reconciliation You might be within your legal rights to retaliate in like manner to insults or other personal affronts, but a willingness to suffer wrong is the only way to move toward reconciliation. Additionally, going above and beyond the minimum legal requirement can help make friends out of enemies.

 Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is attempting to teach the ways of the Kingdom of God. Do these principles work? Mahatma Gandhi thought so. Gandhi’s “peaceful non – resistance” tactics eventually led to independence for India from the British. The American Civil Rights Movement employed the tactic of non – violent resistance, using sit – ins, bus boycotts, and demonstrations. While authority figures retaliated with violence, the film footage and photos of peaceful citizens being unjustly beaten and jailed ultimately created such negative publicity that the Civil Rights Movement succeeded in changing the face of America.

Whom do you hate? Is there anyone whom you would just love to punish? Anybody who has insulted you or hurt you? LET IT GO!  Your hatred and scheming for retaliation is doing nothing but making you sick. While you are planning revenge, the blood vessels in your heart, your brain, and your kidneys are constricting. Your blood pressure is rising. Your stomach is producing more acid. Some people say that “revenge is a dish best served cold.” But Jesus would say, “Revenge is a dish that should be thrown out with the rubbish!”

PRAYER : Father God, this teaching is very difficult! We really want to retaliate when we are hurt. Please change our hearts so that we can forgive and make peace. Help us to absorb insults rather than to react to them. And please help us to become peace makers. In the matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 5:33 – 37 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord [as a religious duty]. 34 But I tell you, Do not bind yourselves by an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 Or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black. 37 Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil one.”

We’ve all seen them, and perhaps we have used them – the text abbreviations such as “OMG”, the exclamations, “Heavenly days!” “Good Lord!” “Jesus!” or, if you are Ghanaian and speak Twi, “Awurade!”(Lord!) And if someone were to question us, we would defend ourselves that we were merely expressing surprise, or shock or disbelief innocently. But is that really all we are doing?

Exodus 20:7 states, “You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Why is it wrong to swear and particularly to swear using any of the names of God? Well, suppose you knew that there was a Supreme Being that was all – powerful, all – knowing, and who listened to every thought you had, every word you spoke? And suppose this same all – powerful, all – knowing being also held your life or death in His power and could end your life in an instant? Wouldn’t you be very careful about whatever you said???

 Oh, wait! There is such a being! The One True Living God is all – powerful, all – knowing, and hears every thought you think and every word you speak.

“But,” you reply in rebuttal, “if this is the case, why hasn’t God already punished me?” 1 Peter 3:9 gives us the answer, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” It is only by the mercy of God that any of us are still here. God loves us and wants each one of us to turn away from ourselves and to come to Him. When we truly love someone, we want to please them and to make them happy. So it is with God.

God has loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins because we by ourselves can never earn our way into heaven. As a small example, one minute we might be helping an elderly friend, but with our next breath, we are misusing God’s Name. We need help! We need deliverance! We are trapped in a pit of sin with no way out, except for the grace of God, that God whose Name we have been misusing.

Proverbs 18:10 says that “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous man runs into it and is safe.” If we will call on the Name of the Lord, not as a swear word or as an exclamation, but in prayer, God will help us. Today, let us listen to ourselves and use the Name of the Lord appropriately.

PRAYER: Father God, please forgive us! We have used and abused your beautiful Name in all kinds of ways. Even now, we have formed habits that are difficult to break – the habit of using your Name as a swear word, or as a sign of disbelief or surprise. Please help us to use your Name the way you have intended – in prayer and praise. Clean our dirty hearts and minds. And thank you that all of this is only possible because you love us. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.

Matthew 5:31 – 32 “It has also been said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 32 But I tell you, Whoever dismisses and repudiates and divorces his wife, except on the grounds of unfaithfulness (sexual immorality), causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.”

“And if you get divorced and then remarry, you have committed a mortal sin!” “God hates divorce! It is worse than any other sin you can commit!” It was 1981 and I was listening to the teaching of a popular Christian teacher, whose name I will not mention. After two days of inspiring messages, this one left me as a divorcee with a lacerated bleeding heart. But thanks be to God that He had other plans and that His mercy and grace were far greater than that speaker was willing to acknowledge. I am divorced and remarried and I am a born – again Christian. This is my story.

I was raised in a Christian home and never knew anyone who had divorced until a close family member was forced to end her marriage over her spouse’s infidelity. When I was in college and one of the girls in the dorm got engaged, we would all gather in a circle and sing, “When I fall in love, it will be forever.” And we meant it, as much as we could. But even in the 1960’s, I suddenly realized one day that nearly half my college friends came from families fractured by divorce. Certainly, that would never happen to me!

When I married a college friend, I really did intend for it to be forever. I was too blind to see the truth one of our pastor friends tried to tell me, namely, that my husband – to – be needed a social worker and a counselor far more than he needed a wife. I dimly realized that my intended came from a dysfunctional situation, but surely if I just loved him enough, love would fix everything. So, I looked at my groom through rose – colored glasses and he too saw something that scarcely resembled me. We married idols of our own creation with our names attached. In less than two years things began falling apart as I progressed in medical school, developing confidence and responsibility. We grew so far apart that the distance was unbridgeable. I insisted on marriage counseling; however, counseling never works when only one partner is interested. Finally, in my senior year of medical school we separated and eventually divorced. At that point I decided that it was going to be me and Jesus for the rest of my life! Marriage? No thanks! I had already failed and had gone through a severe depression in the process.

In the Fall of 1981 I had a prayer partner for whose marriage we were praying. In the course of our prayers, my prayer partner informed me that God was going to give me a husband, and that it would be soon. I was NOT interested; in fact, I was completely incredulous! Nonetheless, God in His sovereignty did bring Bob Young into my life and began healing both of us. Bob was also divorced and both of us realized that only God could serve as a basis for a relationship. We spent hours in prayer together and eventually married in April 1982. As we were preparing for the wedding, I found a bride’s New Testament given to me by my godmother many years earlier. I was sad because I remembered that at one point when I was in love for the first time, I had written in this book with indelible ink. Opening the book, I began searching to see what I had written……but the pages were clean. And the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “See, I DO make all things new!”

Do I encourage divorce or preach divorce? Absolutely not! Marriage is a covenant relationship and as such should be treasured and maintained whenever possible. But there are many reasons why Bible – believing Christians may find themselves forced to divorce. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual infidelity, substance abuse – these are just a few of the reasons that Christians wind up divorcing. Divorce is not something to be entered upon lightly and nobody should marry with their fingers crossed in case things don’t work out the way they want them to.

Is divorce a mortal sin? To a holy God, all sin is sin. God does not grade on a curve. But the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse us from all sins. Does God give second chances? Yes! But please hear me, if you are divorced and hope to remarry, first make sure your relationship with God is on a solid footing. There is a tremendous temptation after divorce to plunge into a new relationship just to prove to yourself that you are lovable. That is NO basis for any kind of relationship! And beware of Satanic counterfeits! If God is planning to bring someone to you, Satan will try to get in there first with someone who is almost but not quite right so that you will never receive God’s best.

PRAYER: Father God, many of your children are hurting! The marriages we thought would last forever are crumbling before our eyes. Our hearts are in pieces. Please God, heal our broken relationships. Heal our broken hearts. And help us to seek you before all else. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 5:29 – 30 “If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell.”

It was going to be a wonderful hike! Aron Ralston, an experienced climber and outdoorsman, was doing a solo descent of Bluejohn Canyon in southeastern Utah, when he dislodged a boulder, pinning his right wrist to the side of the canyon wall. After five days he was able to amputate his arm with a dull pocketknife, make his way through the rest of the canyon, rappel down a 65-foot (20 m) drop, and hike 7 miles (11 km) to safety. Amazingly enough, this did not end Ralston’s climbing career at all; he later became the first climber to ascend all of the Colorado peaks over 14,000 feet solo in the winter time.

But what if you were caught mentally, emotionally, or spiritually? You were flicking through YouTube videos when it happened. Suddenly you found yourself watching on – line porn. You should have turned it off, but you didn’t. Or perhaps you were feeling lucky and found an on – line betting site. And what the heck? You could risk a couple of dollars without hurting yourself…..that first time. There are all kinds of addictive/obsessive behaviors that can catch us unawares. Some obsessions even get applauded by society – workaholism, for example. And when you get commended, it feels good. Of course, your family rarely sees you, but they should appreciate how hard you are working to give them a good life, right?

What is Jesus trying to teach us about sin? None of us wishes to lose an eye, but what is the significance of the right hand? In many societies with limited water, the right hand is the social hand while the left hand is reserved for wiping one’s bottom after defecating. When we first came to Ghana in the late 1980’s, we quickly learned that we must hand a store clerk money with our right hands. (When we returned to the U.S. in 1990, my husband freaked out a store clerk in Southaven, Mississippi by apologizing for handing her money with his left hand. Our explanations only left the lady confused and wondering if she needed to call Security.) When Jesus is advising his listeners that they might have to cut off their right hands, he is actually implying that even if they have to become social outcasts for want of a right hand, that is preferable to falling into sin.

What Jesus is telling us is that when confronted with an opportunity to sin, we should flee as possible! Deliberation or equivocation is futile, because we can rationalize any kind of bad behavior to ourselves. In the short video clip, the speaker describes the challenge of having a photographic memory. If this man sees something he shouldn’t, it will imprint itself on his mind and he will struggle with it for the next year. But even those of us whose memories aren’t this good may find that we remember vivid images readily, even when we are not making an effort to remember them. There is only one way out of this problem: flee!

But what if the damage has already been done and we feel caught? We can pray and ask Jesus and He will cleanse our hearts. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus will help us, but we must continue to avoid those things that cause us to sin – the videos, the gambling, the alcohol, the toxic work habits. And many times, we must ask Jesus for His help several times a day because temptations will hit continually.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank you that you died for our sins and defeated death on the cross. Thank you that because you defeated sin and death, you can help us defeat the sin in our lives. Come into our hearts and clean them. Please help us to turn away from sin and to worship you instead. In your mighty and precious Name. Amen.

Matthew 5:27 – 28 “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

The Super Bowl is over and the fall – out from the pornographic half – time show is still hitting social media. One friend commented that this was her first time to witness a strip club routine! The combination of adult women performing simulated sex acts plus young girls appearing with them did not empower women but rather encouraged exploitation and particularly exploitation of young girls, at a time when sex trafficking is at an all – time high throughout the world. Several Christian groups were trying to reach out to children who might have been trafficked specifically to meet the “needs” of those attending the Super Bowl.

One of the most ridiculous aspects of the entire situation is that those planning this entertainment apparently felt that they were being cutting edge, new, and bold. King Solomon lamented in Ecclesiastes that there was nothing new under the sun, and this was no exception. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, God warned them not to have anything to do with cult prostitutes. Now whether or not there was pole dancing is unclear, but there were definitely scantily clad young ladies at the high places where pagan worship took place. That half – time show was as old as Sodom and Gomorrah.

“But,” you ask, “what’s wrong with watching simulated sex acts? I’m not actually DOING anything.” Oh? You aren’t? Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” We first practice in our hearts and our minds what we will later act upon. Sigmund Freud recognized this fact and stated that, “The thought is father to the deed.” Long before Freud, Jesus knew this well. It’s possible that as Jesus was teaching, one of the local prostitutes might have walked by out of defiance, just to see if she could distract and disrupt the crowd. Jesus always took advantage of any local event to turn it into a teaching moment.

We must guard our hearts! Proverbs 4:23 states “Above all else, guard your heart! For everything you do flows from it.” And if we are caring parents, we must also guard our children’s hearts. If your children see you approving of something, they will assume that it’s OK for them as well. Do you want your daughter to dress like the women who appeared on the half time show? Do you want your son or daughter to become a street walker or to be sexually trafficked? Today children of both sexes are being abducted and forced to star in kiddie porn movies or to work as prostitutes. If we do not guard our hearts, our children will watch us and copy us. At the end, that heart you failed to guard may be broken as your child acts out what was playing in your mind.

PRAYER: Father, today we confess that we have allowed terrible things to invade our hearts. We have entertained ourselves with filth. Forgive us, Lord! Clean up our dirty hearts! And please, Father, save our children from the consequences of our wrong actions. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 5: 23- 24 “So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance against you, 24 Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.”

Jesus is continuing to teach about the dangers of anger and the need to forgive and to seek forgiveness. These verses describe the ritual of offering a sacrifice to God at the Temple, known as the korban. Offering any major sacrifice was a high point of the religious life of a Jewish man in Jesus’ day, perhaps even a once in a lifetime event. This was generally an animal such as a sheep, an expensive offering indeed. Common worshipers would not themselves ever place a gift on the altar, this was reserved for priests.  It is likely that this would be one of the only times a layman would ever approach the altar of the Temple. According to the priestly tradition, once the sacrificial ceremony was begun, nothing should be allowed to interrupt it. What Jesus is believed to be saying is that even if in the middle of this process one realizes that there is a dispute with one’s brother, that it would be better in God’s eyes to go and immediately try to resolve the dispute then to continue with the ritual.

(Information from Wikipedia “https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_5:23–24&oldid=914230213”)

This verse is sometimes misunderstood. One friend was astounded when she was accosted by a fellow church member just as the communion service was starting. It seems that this lady had unwittingly offended this man and now the man felt compelled to confront the lady so that he could then take communion. Dumping your gunny sack of hurts on someone is NOT what Jesus meant! If someone offends you, forgive them, whether or not they seek forgiveness. But here Jesus is speaking about a situation in which you are the offender and you know yourself to have offended. In that case, Jesus says that seeking forgiveness from your brother is more important than any religious ritual, no matter how significant. For if you do not seek forgiveness from your brother when you know you have actually offended him, your sacrifice will be meaningless.

“But what if I have done nothing wrong and my brother has chosen to be offended anyway? How can I tell if or when I need to ask forgiveness?” This question is a thorny one, for each of us can name acquaintances who take offense when none was intended. In such a case, you need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and to give you the words and the timing. There is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. But you can pray while you are waiting for further guidance. Pray that God will bring his perfect solution to your situation. You must realize, however, that sometimes you may attempt reconciliation and the other person will absolutely refuse to accept it.

When we were first beginning our missionary training, we were in a group with several missionary families from different mission agencies. Thrilled to be getting exposure to language learning and cross – cultural adaptation, we plunged into the training with unbridled enthusiasm. But one of the missionary wives was suffering. Unfortunately, this dear lady had a number of unresolved emotional issues that were surfacing due to the stress of the training, and she was unhappy and afraid. What we failed to realize was that she resented both of us, particularly me, because we were working with language learning and she was struggling. I am a gifted language learner. I can take no credit for this; I might as well say that I have brown hair and grey eyes, and I can’t take any credit for those either. But we were in the same language learning group together and this lady hated me for assimilating the material with enthusiasm. Later, when the leaders misguidedly decided that it would be great if everyone bared their grievances, this lady attacked me publicly in such a pointed fashion that everyone knew she was speaking about me. I tried to reconcile with this lady, but her resentment had grown to such enormous proportions that it was impossible. I had come to represent everything she hated and feared about going to the mission field because I appeared to be coping well and she was not. In such a situation, closure became impossible and we had to complete the training program with this situation unresolved. I did try as much as I could to reconcile; the offer was there but this lady refused to accept it.

PRAYER: Father, thank you that when you ask us to do something, there must be a way to accomplish it. Please help us to recognize when we have offended someone and to reconcile as quickly as possible. And help us to forgive as quickly as possible and not to treasure up any hurts but to quickly put them under the blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.

Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. 22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart ) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty – headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell of fire.”

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

“That guy drives me crazy! How can he be so stupid? What an idiot!”  How many times have we thought or said things like this? While we continue to excuse our bad behavior, we are more than willing to viciously attack others, either mentally or out loud. Some people seem to just go through life like a ping pong ball in a tile bathroom, continually bouncing off walls. Such people only know how to criticize and tear down, reacting in anger to any stimulus and rebounding from one mini – crisis to another. Associates of such people quickly learn to stay out of their way!

Murders do not happen in an instant; murders begin with someone hating and resenting another person and persisting in that hatred until it spills over into action. These verses speak of someone who is continually angry, persistently angry. “But I have never killed anybody,” you might say. No, but how many times have you descried someone as being foolish, or an idiot, or some other term that means the same thing?

Why is our thought – life so important? God is the only Sovereign Judge because He is the only one with all the evidence. The rest of us only see bits and pieces of situations. God sees our hearts – every dirty little insult we think about people, every time we are impatient and each time we feel justifiably fed up with people. If God were not infinitely patient, we would all have been vaporized a long time ago. Sitting in judgement, even mentally, is a very dangerous business!

How do we stop judging and criticizing? We must guard our hearts! Each time we find ourselves tempted to criticize or to mentally insult someone, we must stop and confess this as sin and ask God to forgive us and to cleanse our hearts and minds. “But I can’t do this completely,” you say. “What if I miss something?” You will miss something. And this is why we all need a Savior. None of us in ourselves is sufficient; only by salvation through Jesus Christ can we be completely clean.

PRAYER: Father, we confess that we sin in our thought life countless times each day! By ourselves we cannot stop these unworthy thoughts. We beg you for your help. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Matthew 5:19 – 20 “Whoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes one of the least [important]of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace.”

1 John 3:4 “Everyone who commits (practices ) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect – being unrestrained and unregulated by his commands and His will).”

RULES! So many rules! By the time of Jesus, there may have been as many as 613 commandments. These commandments were not included in the Torah but were the result of centuries of religious debate as to how to properly observe the commands embodied in the Torah. There were positive rules for things that should be done and negative rules for things from which one should abstain. Needless to say, keeping all of these rules was nothing less than a full – time occupation and an impossibility for the average Jew. Even someone who really loved God must have felt like a continual failure. What was Jesus trying to do when he made this statement?  Remember, this is the same Jesus who later criticized the Pharisees for tithing their spices but refusing to care for their aged parents.

Jesus was always consistent. He honored the commands of His heavenly Father. And so, Jesus commends those who were following God’s commandments and teaching others to honor them also. But there is nothing to indicate that Jesus was referring to this huge body of commentary that had grown up around God’s basic commands. Instead, Jesus was encouraging His listeners to follow God’s basic commandments and the spirit in which they were given. At the same time, Jesus was also illustrating our fundamental problem as humans: we have a sin nature. Even the best and most loving people we know can become irritable or resentful or get offended at times. We are caught in an impossible situation, one that Paul described in Romans 7:15-25. We want to do the right thing, but even when we are trying our best, our sinful natures make it impossible. Left on our own, none of us would be able to earn our way into heaven!

In the verses from Matthew, Jesus is laying the foundation of His ministry. Jesus is warning His hearers that He has not come to abolish the Law. But Jesus has come as the perfect blood sacrifice to satisfy the demands of the law. Those of us who accept what Jesus has done for us are no longer under the penalty of the law but we are under grace, that is, we have received the grace of God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. When someone you love very much does something wonderful for you, you want to please that person. If that person asks you to do something, you will gladly do it out of gratitude for the great thing they have done for you. So now if we have accepted the sacrifice Jesus has made for us and if we are following Jesus, we will gladly follow God’s commandments out of love.

PRAYER: Father, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You sent Jesus to live and die for our sins. We are now under grace and not under law because of the Blood of Jesus. Help us to follow your commands and to delight in your ways in gratitude for this great Salvation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.