Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 6:22-24 The Lamp of the Body (Luke 11:33-36)

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your vision is poor, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

James 1:5-7 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

We’ve all seen people who look impressive and speak beautifully….but the longer you get to know some people, the more you realize the first impression is merely a façade. Such people lack clear vision and what initially appears as light is only a flash, while they are actually creatures of darkness. Trust such a person at your own risk, for they can disappoint you and betray you.

The word “disciple” comes from a Greek word that means “one who engages in learning from another, a pupil or adherent.” Disciples are meant to be continually learning from their masters and must pay close attention at all times. No true disciple has time or energy to hold more than one set of opinions. In Jesus’ day, disciples might literally follow their masters wherever their masters would go, walking in the masters’ footsteps. True disciples will copy their masters as much as possible so that their personalities will reflect his. If a disciple ever starts holding opinions adverse to the master’s teaching, he has become unstable and confused and is no longer a true disciple.

Siamese twins are generally joined at some part of the body, but those that survive frequently have two chests with heart and lungs and two heads. To be a Siamese twin disciple means that you are attempting to hold two completely differing opinions simultaneously. Later, Jesus tells his disciples that “No man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Everyone has watched farmers plowing or has plowed themselves, and everyone knows that to achieve a straight furrow, you must fix your eyes on one point and then aim steadily for that point. Take your eyes off your goal even briefly, and your furrow will waver. One of our friends, a Catholic priest, has a poster that reads “If you don’t know where you are going, you’re likely to wind up somewhere else.”

Yesterday we were driving in our regional capital when we had to stop suddenly. A young man riding his motorcycle behind us was obviously paying more attention to his cell phone than to us and bumped into the back of our vehicle. Fortunately, nobody was injured, nor were either of the vehicles damaged. But the cause was obvious: the young man’s complete attention was in the wrong direction. In Ghana, it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving a vehicle and police can stop you and fine you if they catch you. Double-mindedness can prove expensive.

“No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Those listening to Jesus are scratching their heads. “What’s wrong with money?” many of them might be thinking. “Without money, I can’t survive.” Jesus obviously recognizes that money is a necessary evil; the question is, whom are you serving? What drives you?  

Once you have chosen a goal, you will stop at nothing in your zeal to achieve that goal. If your main goal is to become as rich as possible, you will bend every effort in that direction. But riches can evaporate overnight. During the 1920’s, businesses were booming, and people were making fortunes. But when the world financial market crashed in 1929, many of the same people who were millionaires on paper found they were paupers. Some people went so far as to commit suicide by jumping out of windows in sky scrapers or shooting themselves. For those people, money had become their god and when their god failed them, they had nothing left.

We all are going to worship something or someone because that is our nature. God is the only One worth trusting, for He will never fail us. Disciples submit everything in their lives to their masters. When we submit to God, He promises to guide us, to provide for us, and to keep us safe spiritually. Nothing and nobody else can accomplish this.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You with everything we are and everything we have. Help us to truly be Your disciples. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Matthew 6:19-21 Treasures in Heaven   

”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust(mildew) destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 Matthew 13:44-46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.”

Jesus is preaching ,the crowds are coming, and the disciples are thrilled! Obviously, they are onto a good thing, getting in on the ground floor of the Messiah’s coming, and things are going to be great from now on. What glories will they see, what accolades will they garner, and what wealth will be theirs when Jesus truly comes into his earthly kingdom! You can imagine these guys rubbing their hands in anticipation. But Jesus, the old spoil sport, is trying to warn his followers that their lovely dreams of earthly grandeur and success will never come true.

Jesus is advising his followers that they must rearrange their priorities. All those around the disciples are focusing on money, possessions, land, and houses. When these things are priorities, you will naturally be consumed with concern for them. Jesus, on the other hand, wants his followers to be heavenly minded and to realize that possessing the kingdom of heaven is far more important than material possessions that might spoil or be stolen. Nothing is more important than becoming a citizen of heaven and that’s where Jesus’ followers should be focusing.

These days, many churches are concerned about “being inclusive,” that is, watering down the Gospel so that nobody will be offended. Being inclusive is the last thing on Jesus’ mind; he wants his disciples to realize that heaven is worth it but that it will cost them everything. Later, a rich young ruler runs to Jesus, drops to his knees, and begs to know how he can gain the kingdom of God. After quizzing the young man and finding that he is an observant Jew, Jesus advises him to sell everything he has, give it all to the poor, and to follow Jesus. The man “goes away sorrowful” for he has great possessions. Some traditions claim that this young man in the story is Mark, who later becomes a follower of Jesus and who partners first with Paul and then with Barnabas. If so, Jesus’ unpleasant advice bore great fruit.

Where are your priorities? If you lost everything you own in a disaster such as a fire, a flood, or a windstorm, what would you do? Would you blame God or would you agree with Job that you came in with nothing and you might go out with nothing? When one of our close friends in Ghana lost a brilliant son to hepatitis B, his only reaction was “Bless the name of the Lord.” Our friend is a man of great faith, someone who may soon go to join Jesus at the throne.

Where is your treasure? We can testify from personal experience that Jesus has cost us practically everything but that we have also been blessed beyond measure. We can also testify that as long as you hold things loosely, allowing God to distribute them, God can replenish and even flood you with blessings. Someday, we all must die and then these things that have been so important will mean nothing to us. At the moment when we see Jesus, what is most important is that we have sought heaven above everything else. Don’t miss heaven for the sake of a Benz, or a house, or fancy clothes, or a big reputation. In the book Kim, Rudyard Kipling quotes an Indian proverb about “missing Delhi for the sake of a fish.” Don’t sacrifice eternal things for something ephemeral.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please help all who read these words to choose to follow You wholly and completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.   

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.“

Once more Jesus is taking out after the religious establishment and once more, the crowds are loving it! How many times have these people seen Avram and other religious leaders going around appearing as if their entire family has died, smearing ashes on their faces, wearing ragged old clothes, and generally looking miserable because they are ….wait for it…FASTING! While this display might be impressive, those who know Avram are aware that as soon as he goes home, he becomes a petty tyrant, verbally and physically abusing all those around him in the Name of the Lord. The neighbors can testify to having listened as Avram has viciously criticized his family, and everyone knows that Avram’s servants are miserable and would leave if they could. Once more, an act that should be a form of worship is merely for show.

Isaiah has quite a lot to say about fasting. Isaiah 58:3-14 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?”

“Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

Is this the fast I have chosen, a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Even though Avram and others have memorized these scriptures as children, they are observing the forms while ignoring the substance. Now Jesus is telling the crowds that in matters of the heart, attitude and secret worship are far more important than public shows, for once you have courted public adulation, you have received your reward. Praise has a lifespan even shorter than that of a breath of air, and the same people who praise you today may be screaming for your blood tomorrow.

All the time that Jesus is teaching the disciples, he is trying to get them to see that their personal relationship with God the Father is what’s important. When we deny ourselves enjoyable things secretly, God the Father sees and knows. God keeps the books as long as we are looking only to Him for approval and not to other people.  

What is our relationship with God the Father? “Father?” you might ask. “My father was horrible! Why should I want anything to do with someone like that?” Good point. Here’s the thing: Your father failed you, but God is the perfect Father and He will never fail, nor can He. No earthly father can ever be equal to God, no matter how wonderful that man might be. Ask God to show His father heart to you and ask Him to help you accept Him as your father. Once you have done this, trust that God will do His part and will manifest Himself to you.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us hear the word “father” and we cringe because our fathers disappointed us or abused us. Please help all who read these words to trust You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 6:5-15 The Model Prayer

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Ah, Jerusalem! Such a holy city! And if you don’t believe it, just wait a little. Avram, the Pharisee, is coming to stand on the street corner to pray so that everyone can see him and admire him. Surely the prayers of an outstanding religious person such as Avram will sanctify the city even further…..won’t they….or will they? And even if you miss Avram’s performance on the street corner, you can still catch it inside the temple, for Avram promises to proceed into the temple and stand where everyone can see him and hear him while he prays some more….actually, a lot more.  

The names don’t matter, but when Jesus begins teaching about prayer, everybody in the crowd knows what he’s talking about because they have all witnessed the professional religious people showing off, displaying their piety. Not only do such people select heavily trafficked public places for their prayers, but they also pray LONG prayers, quoting as much Scripture as possible to demonstrate their grasp of holy writings. Those unfortunate enough to enter the temple during one of these performances are in for a long siege before they too can pray and then go.

Jesus is encouraging us to speak with God simply and quietly in a private location. If you wanted to talk with your best friend, you won’t do it in the middle of a busy street, but in a quiet place where you have time to communicate. And when you speak with friends, you don’t repeat the same phrases over and over, but you state things plainly, knowing your friend will understand. You also use a normal tone of voice, not some “woo-woo” sanctimonious quaver; neither do you scream. Why scream at someone sitting right next to you? How rude!

Now Jesus turns to the content of the prayers. We are to regard God as our Father, the most perfect Father there is. The fatherhood of God is a tough concept for many people because they’ve had bad or disappointing experiences with their earthly fathers. Some fathers are weak or emotionally absent. Some fathers have only served as sperm donors, deserting mothers and children. Other fathers have been verbally, emotionally, or physically and sexually abusive. But in the Jewish culture, a good father provides for his family, protects his family, and guides his family. As the ultimate perfect Father, God can do all these things better than anybody else.

We are to call God’s Name as holy, sacred, not something to be mishandled or to be used in casual expressions such as “OMG!” We are praying to a perfectly pure and holy God, not one of the pagan deities noted for sexual or other immorality. During the conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus tells her that “God is a spirit, and they who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” If we want the very best for ourselves and for others, we should be longing for God’s kingdom to come and for His perfect will to be done in all things, for then everything will work properly and will be peaceful. When faced with a conundrum, it is helpful to ask God for His perfect will to be done in a situation. As we make this request, we are handing over our right to decide what’s best, trading it for God’s best instead. We are acknowledging that God knows the facts of the situation better than we do and that He can handle things far better than we can. You can’t go wrong making such a request.

“Give us this day our daily bread.“ Here we are acknowledging our total dependence on God for everything, including our food. No matter how much we choose to ignore this fact, none of us are self-made individuals. If God does not supply us, we will have nothing.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Why is this statement an important part of the prayer? We must first forgive before God can forgive us. If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we block God from forgiving us. When we forgive freely, then God can freely forgive us. One of the fundamental laws of the Kingdom of God is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. We limit God’s forgiveness for us when we harbor unforgiveness.

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” God does not lead us into temptation but we court temptation ourselves. We constantly need deliverance from Satan and only God can protect us.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Here we acknowledge God as Sovereign of the universe, almighty, all-powerful, all-glorious, and ruler of all. “Amen” translates to “Let it be so!”

Large numbers of books have been written about this prayer and studying it in depth is very worthwhile. But we miss a great deal if we ignore Jesus’ instructions that precede it. These days, there are many prayer meetings that go on for hours while people scream at God as loudly as possible, repeating their petitions as rapidly as possible. Sometimes people claim to be waging spiritual warfare; however, when Jesus confronted demons, he simply told them to leave and they did. While there is nothing wrong with praying for long periods of time, the content of the prayers and the mode of delivery are important. Prayer is a two-way conversation, not a monologue. We should listen far more than we should speak. God is not deaf, and He knows our hearts; however, when we speak out our petitions and even record them, we can later record God’s answers. This practice will build our faith. When Jesus is advising us to go into a secret place, he is not advising that we copy the Pharisees or any other group.  We need to be careful, lest we find ourselves copying the wrong model for prayer rather than the one Jesus has advised. May God help us, so that our prayers will glorify Him and not us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to pray as You want us to, realizing that You always hear us. We ask this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Do Good to Please God

Matthew 6:1-4 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

It was our first year in Ghana and we were just getting used to the local language and to long worship services. We were impressed that each Sunday, the pastor would solemnly give a “mini-sermon” before his official one. Only when we learned more of the local language did we realize that this was no sermon! The pastor was announcing special contributions from rich people so that everyone in the congregation would appreciate their generosity. When we attended funerals or weddings, we swiftly learned that unless we quietly dropped our donations in a general fund, those collecting donations would ensure that the amount of our donation be generally announced. For many of those donating, the motto seemed to be “If you’ve got it, flaunt it!”

These days, fund-raisers in churches will start by asking those donating large amounts of money such as 1,000 Ghana cedis or 500 Ghana cedis to bring their money forward so everyone can applaud them. These announcers will then work their way down until they allow those with small amounts to come forward and give anonymously. We simply wait until the general offering is taken and then donate.

Things were no different in Jesus’ day. The professional religious people donated all right; however, they wanted to make sure that EVERYBODY knew exactly how generous they were. Lacking spotlights, these people settled for sounding trumpets as they processed to the temple or as they handed over their donation inside the temple. What God-fearing rabbis thought of this horrific practice can only be imagined.

Sometimes culture and Scripture clash, and this is a prime example. Jesus is telling a shocked crowd that they have a choice: do they want God’s approval or man’s? Publicizing donations may get popular praise, but enjoy it for that’s all you’re going to get. On the other hand, if you keep your charity secret, God will reward you openly.

We have seen church elders praise wicked people who abuse their house help and practically starve their families so they can make a good showing publicly. Here Jesus is saying, “Better enjoy whatever people are saying, because that’s all the reward you’re going to get.” The law of the Kingdom of God is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive; however, when you give anticipating a lot of praise, you are determining your own reward. People will say anything to manipulate on behalf of their organization, but praise is ephemeral with a life-span shorter than that of a May-fly that barely lives 24 hours. On the other hand, God’s rewards might last a lifetime.

If we are to truly be disciples, we must abandon the idea of adulation and fancy speeches. But charity does have some instant rewards. We routinely assist poor patients with medical bills, and they frequently return with guinea eggs, guinea fowls, or tubers of yam. We are helping because we don’t want the rest of the family to starve, but these people want to demonstrate their gratitude. We receive these gifts gratefully, recognizing the sacrifices these families are making, and then pass them on to others to bless them as well.

In 1992, we were leaving the U.S. for Ghana. One family needed a vehicle and we gave my small car to them. Another family needed living room furniture and we donated that as well. That car has since blessed two or three other families. Our advice after years of ministry: Don’t be afraid to give. God keeps the books.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to give freely as You have given to us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Go the Second Mile Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

For those listening to Jesus, the quote about “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is a familiar saying, but where does it come from? Exodus 21:22-23 tells us, “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Although that statement appears harsh, it is actually a step forward. Previously, people took any revenge they wanted to, including murder, for a relatively minor injury. All these years, the crowd has been following the tenets of Moses, but now Jesus is saying that retaliation in any form has no place in the Kingdom of heaven.

Many in the crowd must be growing restless, wondering why Jesus is saying these things. Some of these people are so poor that they only have one tunic or one cloak; if they give those things away, they will walk around naked with no protection from the cold. And what is Jesus referring to when he advises to go an extra mile? Remember that Israel is under Roman occupation. It is common for Roman soldiers to demand that ordinary citizens drop what they are doing to carry the soldiers’ equipment. Jesus is advising that if a soldier compels you to carry his equipment one mile, you should offer to carry it a second mile as well, doing more than has been expected or asked.

Sharing is another difficult concept for many in the crowd. Money lenders have existed ever since money has been used, and the regulations for these people have been spelled out in the Law of Moses. But Jesus is advocating sharing without collecting interest or even expecting any return and allowing people to borrow freely. The beggars are always present; is Jesus demanding that the crowd give everything away to beggars?

Jesus habitually makes radical statements to shake up the crowd and to grab their attention. Just as Jesus has advised dismemberment rather than disgrace, now Jesus is advising radical sharing rather than greed.

These teachings have always troubled missionaries who find themselves as wealthy people in poor countries where needs are overwhelming. Questions come quickly: “Must I give away all my child’s toys, leaving my child with nothing? Is Jesus really demanding that I give away all my clothes and walk around naked? What about the vehicle I use for ministry?” There are no cut and dried answers to these questions. The only answer possible is to view all one’s possessions as belonging to Jesus and then asking Jesus to direct the giving. We have given away vehicles to others in ministry and have been blessed in doing so, for those recipients are routinely sharing their God-given resources with others. On the other hand, there are those who will visit us and then ask for everything in the house, even though we know that they may have better possessions than we do. We try not to give to leeches or to create dependency.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Here is a teaching which brooks no argument. God hates revenge. How many people curse God and do everything to provoke Him; meanwhile, God continues to send sunshine and rain impartially? Why should we love our enemies and bless them, doing good for them, and praying for them? This teaching is one of the thorniest teachings of Jesus, but it is necessary. As long as we are plotting revenge, we are digging an ever-deepening spiritual hole for ourselves. When we pray for our enemies or for those who spitefully use us, we release God’s power to change them. There are many testimonies from those working in companies that when they began praying for their difficult bosses, their bosses changed. Think about it: if you don’t intercede for people, how will they ever change for the better? The more irritating someone is, the more you need to pray God’s richest blessings on that person, for only God knows the way to that person’s heart and only God knows their circumstances.

How can you pray for someone who is spitefully using you? Here is a model prayer:

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are surrounded by critics and enemies. We pray Your richest blessings of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control on all these people. You have told us in Galatians 5:22-23 that these are the fruits of Your Holy Spirit; if their lives are full of Your Holy Spirit, they will be transformed. . We pray that You send the Love of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Fire of the Holy Spirit upon our critics and on us as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

 Matthew 5: 31-32 Marriage Is Sacred and Binding

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

Jesus Forbids Oaths Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Huge amounts of been written about divorce, but it’s helpful to examine divorce as it was practiced in Jesus’ day. Even Pharisees could simply hand their wives certificates of divorce, forcing the women to leave the house and face an uncertain future. The reasons for divorce were myriad. The Hillel school of rabbinic thought included the poor woman burning the dinner, the husband seeing another woman he liked better, the woman “causing embarrassment,” or “for any other reason.” A second school of rabbinic thought, the Shammai school, only countenanced divorce on the grounds of sexual unfaithfulness or adultery; however, the men were the ones who could demand divorces while women could not. Unmarried women or widows frequently found themselves at the mercy of the men around them, so divorce robbed a woman of social and physical protection, as well as throwing her into poverty.

Here Jesus is advising those around him that if they want to be his disciples, they must honor all the covenants they make, including the marriage covenant. Jesus goes on to forbid oaths and to urge people to keep their word when they make an agreement. Disciples must be trustworthy, and someone who will break a marriage covenant on the slightest pretext is not.

But what about the issue of divorce? Many churches take this particular statement of Jesus without examining the rest of the New Testament and use it to attack divorced people. But there are as many reasons for divorce as there are couples, and such harsh judgements have frequently resulted in people rejecting God because those claiming to follow Him have behaved viciously.

Phil Whitall pastors Grace Church Stockholm in his blog thesimplepastor.co.uk describes 4 Biblical reasons for divorce as described in this illustration: Adultery and sexual unfaithfulness, Abandonment or desertion, Neglect, Abuse. It should be noted that abuse can be physical, mental, emotional, or some combination of all three. What do we say to the man or woman who faces daily doses of vitriol pouring from the mouth of their spouse? What about women who must go underground with their children in hopes of escaping physical abuse or even death? What about the man whose wife has become so addicted to drugs that she has impoverished the family, leaving her children to face ridicule wherever they go? And what about women who have given everything they can to their marriages, only to find that nothing is enough? Some Christians appear more willing to accept a murderer who has repented than a divorced man or woman who has suffered abuse, desertion, neglect, or other suffering? Is divorce really an unpardonable sin? The short answer is “No!”

One of the problems we face when discussing sin is the question of which sins are worse? Are addictions to drugs, gambling, food, shopping, etc. worse than gossiping or betraying one’s friends or co-workers? Is homosexuality or lesbianism worse than murder? Again, the answer is “NO!” God does not grade on a curve or rate some sins as worse than others. Romans 3:23 tells us “For ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Some of us have sins that are more visible than others, but all of us are sinners in need of a Savior.  

God has instituted marriage so that men and women and children can live in a loving environment. Jesus adds his teaching against oath taking or breaking to his discourse on divorce because marriage is a covenant relationship, one that should not be broken if at all possible. But bad things happen to good people. Some of us may marry someone, believing that we understand their personality, only to find that we have created a false figure that has little relationship to reality. Sometimes a spouse may prove to be bipolar or psychotic, with ever-worsening behavior. Other times, the same spouse who appeared incredibly attentive and affectionate during courtship turns out to be obsessively controlling and physically abusive after marriage. Only God really knows the human heart sufficiently to judge; the rest of us need to leave judgment to God.

Years ago, we worked in a mission group with a woman who was very difficult. At one point, I was venting to one of our friends, complaining at length about this woman. Our friend looked at me kindly and then said, “Well, I have noticed that suffering is 100% for everybody.” This statement is one of the wisest I have heard. Things that bother me don’t bother others and vice versa. That statement illustrates the fact that none of us are qualified to judge or criticize.

Here Jesus is trying to urge his disciples to honor covenants but also to act in love, both in their families and with their neighbors. Jesus is actually protesting the harsh attitude of the Pharisees and scribes against women. It behooves all of us to act in love, comforting rather than viciously pronouncing judgment. Am I in favor of fidelity? Absolutely! I have been married more than four decades and my husband is my best friend. But the longer I go on this journey of faith, the less qualified I feel to judge others. Am I advocating divorce? No. But I recognize there are times when that is the only option left to someone who has already suffered much.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be compassionate but to honor covenants and to let our “yes be yes and our no be no.” In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Murder Begins in the Heart

Matthew 5: 21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says,  ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

27-30 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

Well, Jesus has just quit preachin’ and gone to meddlin’. As long as someone is simply preaching, we can listen or not, and remain unchanged. But when anyone begins truly proclaiming the Word of God, we will have one of two reactions: either we will be changed or our hearts will become even harder.

Here Jesus is telling us that anger begins with the little things, calling someone “Raca” or “empty head” or proclaiming him as a fool. We must continue to watch our hearts closely for sin begins in our hearts. The more we feed our anger and resentment, the stronger it will become until we will do something regrettable.

Now Jesus moves into another area: worship with a dirty heart. Jesus advises that if we want to worship God and we know we have sinned against someone else, we must go and apologize to that person and make things right. Failing to reconcile means our worship will be worthless.

What if someone has a legal case against us? Again, Jesus advises to settle the matter before it reaches court. Evidently, even in Jesus’ day, the only people who were really winning in court cases were the lawyers and not the plaintiffs.

Now Jesus moves into another problem area: SEX. Lust has been around as long as the human race. Jesus is advising not to allow lust to even get going, for once those lustful ideas start, it will be very difficult to stop them, particularly if they are entertaining. Those who have struggled with addictions to on-line pornography can testify to the truth of Jesus’ teachings.

Is Jesus really advocating that we maim ourselves? No. But Jesus wants us to realize just how serious these heart matters are so that we will be serious about repudiating bad thoughts as soon as they appear. If we begin to be entertained by thoughts of revenge, we may progress to physical acts of revenge. Far better to confess our problems to God and allow Him to handle them.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and cannot help ourselves change. Please cleanse our hearts and minds with Your Holy Spirit power. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

BELIEVERS ARE SALT AND LIGHT

Matthew 5: 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is conducting spiritual boot camp for his disciples while thousands of others listen in. NOBODY is teaching anything like this in the synagogues and these people are amazed at what they are hearing. “You are the salt of the earth.” Say what? Sure, everybody knows about salt, uses salt, and looks for salt in the market. Caravans bring salt to areas that don’t have it. Salt is such a precious commodity that sometimes people pay debts with salt. Now Jesus is saying that just as fresh salt flavors food and makes it satisfying, so disciples must bear the flavor of God wherever they go. But what happens if salt draws moisture, cakes, and loses its flavor? Every housewife knows that salt is worthless and must be thrown away. Believers lacking the flavor of God’s presence won’t have any effect on the world.

”You are the light of the world.” About now, the disciples are thinking, “Who? ME?” These people are nothing if not realists, and they know just how sinful they really are. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now the disciples are really worried. These guys know what others think about them, and they know they fall far short of God’s glory. And if they are worried now, they’re going to be more worried in a minute.

Jesus tells his people that he has come to fulfill the law, not to set it aside, that he is so concerned about fulfilling the law that not even the tiniest brush stroke of a letter will be ignored. This pronouncement might be disappointing for some who are hoping that Jesus is going to preach an easier way of salvation. And it gets even worse.

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Well, now the disciples are truly discouraged. The scribes and Pharisees are professional religious people who spend all their time observing minutiae and arguing over it. Common people who have to work have no time for that stuff. Is Jesus giving a glimpse of heaven, only to snatch it away from his listeners?

The short answer to that question is “No.” Jesus is not a wicked man who dangles glory in front of people, only to disappoint them. The point of this teaching is to lead people to consider their sinful state and then to show them how God wants to change them. Jesus is fully conscious that none of his listeners can possibly achieve holiness by themselves, and that’s why he is teaching these things. Jesus wants to lead people into a far higher way of life, one in which they serve God out of love and not out of fear. The righteousness about which Jesus is teaching can only be achieved with God’s help, not by observing a myriad of petty rules.

Perhaps you too have struggled with some of the same problems those people are considering on that hillside. Somehow, you have gotten the idea that God is a wicked old man, sitting in heaven and prepared to punish anyone who puts a foot wrong. Jesus wants you to know that idea is completely wrong. God knows we are weak and that we cannot help ourselves. The first three steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps say:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Over the years, these affirmations have led millions of people to victory over alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other addictions.

Jesus is not preaching the Sermon on the Mount to accuse people, but to demonstrate what can happen when God’s Kingdom becomes a reality in the lives of individuals. God stands ready to help anyone who will appeal to Him for help, for He longs for fellowship with us and will bend every effort to assist us if we only ask. But we must be sincere in our asking. James warns us that when we pray, we can’t be like the waves of the sea, going back and forth, back and forth. We must trust that God hears us and that God will help us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we know that we are sinners and cannot free ourselves from those sins that wrap around our hearts and minds and bodies. Please deliver us from ourselves. Help us to truly become light and salt, true citizens of Your Kingdom. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”

Is Jesus impressed with these early results? No. Jesus fully realizes that in a culture with little entertainment, these miracles and healings have become the biggest thing around. Matthew 5:1-2 tells us, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…”

Jesus knows enough to realize that God the Father has blessed his early ministry. But now it’s time to begin teaching his followers and anyone else who shows up. The teachings Jesus shares on that hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee are now known as the Sermon on the Mount. In that discourse, Jesus covers several important points.

Jesus begins by teaching the Beatitudes, those qualities that God calls blessed. These foundational truths are necessary for the disciples because Jesus isn’t worried about turning them into a bunch of miracle workers but rather into citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus first teaches that his followers are not to “get uppity,” that is to become proud of themselves in any fashion. While disciples are to value themselves as people whom God loves, they must realize that this does not make them more special than anybody else. George Whitefield and John Wesley were both at the forefront of revival in England in the 1700’s; however, they had strong theological differences. Whitefield was one of the most successful preachers of his day, preaching to as many as 20,000 people at a time in open fields. Tony Cooke tells us, “One of Whitfield’s followers (who obviously still held great animosity against Wesley) said to Whitfield, “We won’t see John Wesley in the heaven, will we?” Whitfield humbly replied “Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the Throne of God and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him!” https://tonycooke.org/articles-by-tony-cooke/wesley-whitfield

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Jesus already knows that his followers are going to suffer for their faith in him and wants to assure them that they can withstand any sorrow, knowing that God will comfort them.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Followers of Jesus must not be push-overs; however, they also must continue to look to God for approval, not flaunting themselves as do the professional religious people. God can’t use someone with a bad attitude.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” No ministry can last if its proponents do not strive for righteousness, and Jesus’ followers must long for righteousness as much as they do for food and water to sustain their bodies.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Jesus wants his followers to be known for their mercy. Why? Because the professional religious people are some of the most intolerant, unmerciful, and judgmental people in existence. Later, Jesus will tell a story of a Pharisee who goes to the temple to pray and spends all his time praising himself. The Pharisee begins his prayer by saying, “God, I thank You that I am not as other men!” Those listening enjoy the story particularly because they have all witnessed something similar.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Jesus knows those who are listening and realizes that many of them are anything but pure in heart. At the same time, many of those same people are longing to become pure in heart and have no idea how to go about it. Here Jesus is not proposing an unreachable standard but is encouraging those who truly desire purity that indeed, purity is achievable and that God wants to help them.  

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”  Jesus wants his followers to be peacemakers and to be known for their ability to bring peace into conflict situations. Being a peacemaker is no easy task, for sometimes the two factions to whom you are trying to bring reconciliation choose to unite in their anger at you. Once you are eliminated, the two factions resume their fight. Peacemakers are sons of God because the mark of the Holy Spirit is peace, not conflict or confusion. We must ensure that we are bringing God’s peace to a situation and not simply imposing our ideas on others.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Here Jesus is warning all listening that following him may result in persecution or even death. Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor who was tortured for his faith, suffered such beatings on the soles of his feet that later when speaking with friendly audiences, he generally sat down because standing was too painful. Korean friends have described North Korean authorities plowing over Christians with bull dozers to discourage others from following Jesus.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” During one high school shooting in Colorado, the shooter queried a young woman as to whether she was a Christian. The young woman knew that to admit to following Christ would mean instant death; yet, she said so anyway and was shot immediately. Through the years, many Christians have endured slander and ridicule without breaking down. Jesus is warning his followers that being a disciple will be anything but a walk in the park.

12 “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.” Jesus is saying these things to Jews who remember the horrible fate of people like the prophet Isaiah who was murdered by wicked King Manasseh. Isaiah foretold more about the Messiah than any other prophet; yet, he suffered terribly. Jeremiah nearly died several times, once being thrown into a well full of muck from which he was rescued just before suffocating.

Anybody who has assumed that following Jesus is going to be lots of fun should be re-thinking that assumption by this point. Now Jesus is starting the process of turning a mixed group of men into a cohesive ministry unit. More than that, Jesus also wants to teach all those around him about the Kingdom as well.

What’s fascinating is that the crowd on the hillside listens raptly, and Jesus’ teaching stirs many hearts. These people have been spiritually hungry and the weekly recitations in the synagogues have failed to satisfy that hunger. Why are these words so compelling?

Many people choose to ignore the Holy Spirit, failing to realize that the third member of the Trinity is just as active as the other two. While Jesus is speaking, the Holy Spirit is convicting hearts. Those recording Jesus’ teachings are also being led by the Holy Spirit to record them precisely. Anyone coming to Jesus spiritually hungry is leaving satisfied, for the Holy Spirit never does anything half-way.

Those of us reading these words are hampered by never having witnessed Jesus speaking them. The film series The Chosen is remarkable for its truthful portrayal of Jesus; yet, even that series, well done as it is, simply falls short because it is only a video imagining what it must have been like to be with Jesus. But we can ask God to reveal Himself to us as we read His Word, and He will do so.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please open the eyes of our hearts so that we may truly see You and understand Your calling for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.