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Location:WCF (1985)

Topic:Sermon on the Mount

Title:Class 2

Speaker:Booker, George

Download:1985-ecbs-g-booker-2.mp3

Source: archive.moorestownchristadelphians.org |

Transcript

Location:WCF (1985)

Topic:Sermon on the Mount

Title:Class 3

Speaker:Booker, George

Download:1985-ecbs-g-booker-3.mp3

Source: archive.moorestownchristadelphians.org |

Transcript

Location:WCF (1985)

Topic:Sermon on the Mount

Title:Class 4

Speaker:Booker, George

Download:1985-ecbs-g-booker-4.mp3

Source: archive.moorestownchristadelphians.org |

Transcript

i thought i might move this rather quickly through this section that is a quickly through this section that is a bit longer than the sections that we've bit longer than the sections that we've discussed in the earlier classes by discussed in the earlier classes by putting a few things on the board and putting a few things on the board and helping you to get um as i got when i helping you to get um as i got when i analyzed a bit uh a brief overview of an analyzed a bit uh a brief overview of an entire section and the points that are entire section and the points that are made in that section so first of all i made in that section so first of all i could direct your attention to this could direct your attention to this board board we have an outline of the first 18 we have an outline of the first 18 verses of chapter six it really is a verses of chapter six it really is a section all in itself that we're not section all in itself that we're not going to spend too much time with at all going to spend too much time with at all so that we can get into the second or so that we can get into the second or the last section of chapter six the last section of chapter six beginning with verse 19 and going on to beginning with verse 19 and going on to the end of the chapter the end of the chapter in this section we have a threefold in this section we have a threefold warning warning that jesus makes to his listeners about that jesus makes to his listeners about a particular kind of righteousness and a particular kind of righteousness and remember we're still following up on remember we're still following up on what was the main subject of the last what was the main subject of the last part of chapter five part of chapter five that that there were two kinds of righteousness there were two kinds of righteousness that are being contrasted with one that are being contrasted with one another the righteousness is practiced another the righteousness is practiced by the pharisees and a different kind of by the pharisees and a different kind of righteousness not just a different righteousness not just a different degree of righteousness but a different degree of righteousness but a different kind or type of righteousness that was kind or type of righteousness that was practiced by jesus and exhorted to his practiced by jesus and exhorted to his followers so in following up on this followers so in following up on this jesus says beware or take heed jesus says beware or take heed that you do not your arms that you do not your arms and that rather peculiar word in the and that rather peculiar word in the king james version verse 1 king james version verse 1 is really the word for righteousness so is really the word for righteousness so what he's saying is beware that you do what he's saying is beware that you do not practice your righteousness not practice your righteousness so as to be seen by other men so as to be seen by other men so so in putting it that way jesus is in putting it that way jesus is in a roundabout sort of way describing in a roundabout sort of way describing the pharisees and others who think like the pharisees and others who think like the pharisees who were interested in the pharisees who were interested in doing particular things doing particular things so that they would be seen by others so that they would be seen by others to be righteous to be righteous so that they would bolster up themselves so that they would bolster up themselves in their own ego and their own pride in their own ego and their own pride so again we're right back to what we so again we're right back to what we discussed considerably in chapter five discussed considerably in chapter five that jesus that jesus and his laws are concerned with the and his laws are concerned with the intentions intentions not only with the outward appearance not not only with the outward appearance not only with the actions on the outside but only with the actions on the outside but the intention jesus says examine your the intention jesus says examine your heart as you do any particular thing and heart as you do any particular thing and do it for the right motives so this do it for the right motives so this becomes a theme that is repeated three becomes a theme that is repeated three times in the first 18 verses of chapter times in the first 18 verses of chapter six with a little additional six with a little additional footnote actually which is quite long an footnote actually which is quite long an additional footnote under the second additional footnote under the second section about prayer which it seems section about prayer which it seems rather strange to say that something is rather strange to say that something is important is the lord's prayer is in a important is the lord's prayer is in a sort of a footnote but that's the way sort of a footnote but that's the way it's set out here in the pattern that it's set out here in the pattern that jesus is developing three times he goes jesus is developing three times he goes through the same sequence through the same sequence after making this initial statement take after making this initial statement take heed that you do not your righteousness heed that you do not your righteousness before men to be seen of them before men to be seen of them he then goes into the first of these he then goes into the first of these three sections and notice how each one three sections and notice how each one follows the same pattern follows the same pattern verse two verse two therefore when you do therefore when you do your righteousness your righteousness and this particularly seems to have to and this particularly seems to have to do with giving of one's wealth for the do with giving of one's wealth for the benefit of others as we see in the last benefit of others as we see in the last part of verse 2. when you do these part of verse 2. when you do these things he says do not sound a trumpet things he says do not sound a trumpet before you in other words don't do it so before you in other words don't do it so as to be seen of men and there's the as to be seen of men and there's the first point that we see in the chart in first point that we see in the chart in your giving do not give so as to be seen your giving do not give so as to be seen of men because if you do of men because if you do you will already have your reward your you will already have your reward your reward will be the satisfaction that you reward will be the satisfaction that you feel in doing this the pride that you feel in doing this the pride that you feel in showing how righteous you are feel in showing how righteous you are and having other people recognize that and having other people recognize that act of righteousness act of righteousness but but you when you do these things you when you do these things and here jesus is talking obviously and here jesus is talking obviously about doing the same sort of thing about doing the same sort of thing whether it be the pharisees if we want whether it be the pharisees if we want them as a bad example and his followers them as a bad example and his followers is the good example he's talking about is the good example he's talking about doing the same thing but he's talking doing the same thing but he's talking about doing it for a completely about doing it for a completely different motive but you when you give different motive but you when you give your arms or when you give of your your arms or when you give of your possessions to help others however that possessions to help others however that might be do it in secret might be do it in secret and your father and your father which sees these things in secret verse which sees these things in secret verse four four himself will reward thee openly so a himself will reward thee openly so a contrast between doing things openly so contrast between doing things openly so they might be seen by others and doing they might be seen by others and doing them in secret them in secret so that god who will see those things so that god who will see those things done in secret will reward openly at a done in secret will reward openly at a later time in other words later time in other words and this this is an interesting concept and this this is an interesting concept that comes later in chapter six in other that comes later in chapter six in other words you can't have your reward now words you can't have your reward now and have your rewards later and have your rewards later and jesus gets more specific on that and jesus gets more specific on that point in the last part of chapter six point in the last part of chapter six when he says you can't have treasure now when he says you can't have treasure now and treasure later you can't have and treasure later you can't have treasure on earth and treasure in heaven treasure on earth and treasure in heaven so here he's saying the same thing you so here he's saying the same thing you can't have a reward now in the can't have a reward now in the satisfaction the pride that comes from satisfaction the pride that comes from knowing how good you are and that other knowing how good you are and that other people recognize it and at the same time people recognize it and at the same time expect to have a reward in the future expect to have a reward in the future very fightingly and very sarcastically very fightingly and very sarcastically he says those who do things only to be he says those who do things only to be seen by men seen by men for the purpose of being seen by men for the purpose of being seen by men they have their reward and a rather sad they have their reward and a rather sad and pitiful reward it is but jesus says and pitiful reward it is but jesus says they have it already they have it already now the second section follows the same now the second section follows the same pattern and here he's talking about pattern and here he's talking about prayer verses five and six notice again prayer verses five and six notice again the same pattern the same pattern and when thou prayest thou shalt not be and when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are as the hypocrites are hypocrite uh interestingly is a greek hypocrite uh interestingly is a greek word which literally means one who is an word which literally means one who is an actor actor one who puts on a face who puts on a one who puts on a face who puts on a mask and plays a part don't be as a mask and plays a part don't be as a hypocrite don't do something to be seen hypocrite don't do something to be seen by others while behind the mask you're by others while behind the mask you're really an entirely different person but really an entirely different person but be yourself and in being yourself do be yourself and in being yourself do things for the right reasons rather than things for the right reasons rather than the wrong the wrong be not as the hypocrites are for they be not as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues love to pray standing in the synagogues in the corners of the streets that they in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men verily i say unto you may be seen of men verily i say unto you they have their reward the second time they have their reward the second time he's used that expression but thou when he's used that expression but thou when thou prayest enter thou into thy closet thou prayest enter thou into thy closet find a secret place and there pray in find a secret place and there pray in secret that your father who sees you secret that your father who sees you praying in secret will reward you openly praying in secret will reward you openly at a later time in other words you can't at a later time in other words you can't have your rewards for praying now and have your rewards for praying now and have your reward for praying later have your reward for praying later in the same person verses 7 through 15 then as i said is something like a footnote as if jesus is something like a footnote as if jesus is saying now that we're talking about the saying now that we're talking about the subject of prayer i'll tell you a bit subject of prayer i'll tell you a bit more about prayer when you pray this is more about prayer when you pray this is the pattern that you should follow we'll the pattern that you should follow we'll look at the lord's prayer for just a few look at the lord's prayer for just a few moments when we finish going through moments when we finish going through this outline this outline we'll come back to those verses we'll come back to those verses the third the third beware that jesus gives is verses 16 beware that jesus gives is verses 16 through 18. again it follows the same through 18. again it follows the same pattern moreover when he fast pattern moreover when he fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance for they disfigure their countenance for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to faces that they may appear unto men to fast verily i say unto you they have fast verily i say unto you they have their reward their reward but thou when thou fastest anoint thine but thou when thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face that thou appear head and wash thy face that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy father not unto men to fast but unto thy father which is in secret and thy father which which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly seeth in secret shall reward thee openly again the identical pattern again the identical pattern now now several brief notes on this first several brief notes on this first section section uh points that i thought might be uh points that i thought might be interesting to bring out a bit more interesting to bring out a bit more detail in verse 2 do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets a figure speaks there and in the streets a figure speaks there that's very obvious sounding a trumpet that's very obvious sounding a trumpet before someone before someone or before oneself making sure that or before oneself making sure that others see the good things that one is others see the good things that one is doing do not sound a trumpet before you doing do not sound a trumpet before you but apparently there's something a but apparently there's something a little more that's intended by this and for this we have to know a bit of background of the times a bit of the background of the times a bit of the customs in customs in the temple in jerusalem the temple in jerusalem there were along the sides of the court there were along the sides of the court of the women of the women outside the temple proper there were 13 outside the temple proper there were 13 arms boxes in which money was to be put arms boxes in which money was to be put for various purposes voluntary for various purposes voluntary contributions to be made for such as contributions to be made for such as such a bond and another fund and a third such a bond and another fund and a third fund and so forth this apparently was fund and so forth this apparently was what jesus was standing or sitting what jesus was standing or sitting nearby nearby uh as described in one of the gospels uh as described in one of the gospels when we're told that he was sitting over when we're told that he was sitting over near the treasury watching those who put near the treasury watching those who put money into the treasury and that's in money into the treasury and that's in mark chapter 12 if you want to look at mark chapter 12 if you want to look at it later and as he was watching he saw it later and as he was watching he saw how how many who had very much obviously by the many who had very much obviously by the clothes that they wore in their demeanor clothes that they wore in their demeanor how they came and with the great how they came and with the great ostentation with the great pretense ostentation with the great pretense dropped in much money they dropped the dropped in much money they dropped the money into these boxes and we're told by money into these boxes and we're told by some of the historians of that time that some of the historians of that time that the boxes themselves the 13 ohms boxes the boxes themselves the 13 ohms boxes were made of metal and they were very were made of metal and they were very small at the top so that you could put small at the top so that you could put your coins or your money in them and your coins or your money in them and very large at the bottom very large at the bottom and shaped like a trumpet and shaped like a trumpet so that when you dropped money into the so that when you dropped money into the box or the trumpet it would make a sound box or the trumpet it would make a sound and if you dropped a little coin it and if you dropped a little coin it would make a little people if you would make a little people if you dropped a lot of coins it would just dropped a lot of coins it would just make a great flashing noise like an make a great flashing noise like an orchestra was playing or like a trumpet orchestra was playing or like a trumpet was founded so jesus says don't make was founded so jesus says don't make your giving in that way and it's not your giving in that way and it's not hard to imagine hard to imagine the sort of activity that he was the sort of activity that he was watching the pharisee with his rich watching the pharisee with his rich robes and his friends there making sure robes and his friends there making sure that he came at the right time when that he came at the right time when there were the most people to be seen there were the most people to be seen his friends and his relations and so his friends and his relations and so forth and there was great ostentation forth and there was great ostentation reaching into his pocket and bringing reaching into his pocket and bringing out a bag filled with coins out a bag filled with coins and waiting for just the proper moment and waiting for just the proper moment perhaps when everything was quiet round perhaps when everything was quiet round about it and then with the great noise about it and then with the great noise throwing all the coins into the trumpet throwing all the coins into the trumpet and a great sound went through the and a great sound went through the temple and everyone far and wide said temple and everyone far and wide said isn't joshua a wonderful man look at isn't joshua a wonderful man look at listen to all that money that he just listen to all that money that he just gave to the temple to that particular gave to the temple to that particular service service jesus of course in his um jesus of course in his um watching also saw the poor widow and we watching also saw the poor widow and we can imagine the way in which she gave can imagine the way in which she gave the two mites creeping up carefully so the two mites creeping up carefully so as not to be seen and dropping the two as not to be seen and dropping the two small coins into the trumpet box that small coins into the trumpet box that would scarcely make any noise at all would scarcely make any noise at all and jesus in looking at the two clearly and jesus in looking at the two clearly had in mind what he was saying here had in mind what he was saying here those pharisees those hypocrites had those pharisees those hypocrites had their reward when the money dropped into their reward when the money dropped into the pot into the box the pot into the box her reward was to come later because she her reward was to come later because she had cast in all her living had cast in all her living all that she had all that she could all that she had all that she could possibly give also in verse 2 and in verse 5 and verse 16 we have that phrase they and verse 16 we have that phrase they have their reward have their reward and we're told by consulting the and we're told by consulting the concordances in the lexicons that that concordances in the lexicons that that word reward word reward i think this fills out the picture of it i think this fills out the picture of it that word reward is quote a commercial that word reward is quote a commercial term term meaning full payment made and receipt meaning full payment made and receipt like a business transaction like a business transaction a man pays all the money that he owes on a man pays all the money that he owes on on a note perhaps or a mortgage and he on a note perhaps or a mortgage and he receives the mortgage back or he receives the mortgage back or he receives a receipt for that which he has receives a receipt for that which he has paid paid jesus is literally saying when men do jesus is literally saying when men do things for these motives to be seen by things for these motives to be seen by others they have already been paid in others they have already been paid in full full everything they have coming has been everything they have coming has been given back to them a receipt is given given back to them a receipt is given the business transaction is finished if the business transaction is finished if that's the way in which they approached that's the way in which they approached it then that's the way in which god it then that's the way in which god approaches it they have been paid in approaches it they have been paid in full by the satisfaction they received full by the satisfaction they received in doing this particular thing to be in doing this particular thing to be seen by others and they had no seen by others and they had no expectation expectation of any further of any further reward coming to them in the future for reward coming to them in the future for that deed another little point and here we're getting into the section about prayer so getting into the section about prayer so we'll talk about the lord's prayer for a we'll talk about the lord's prayer for a few moments in verse 7 few moments in verse 7 he says when you pray i told you how not he says when you pray i told you how not to pray and then i told you to pray in to pray and then i told you to pray in secret and that's the proper way so that secret and that's the proper way so that you'll have a reward in heaven but when you'll have a reward in heaven but when you pray you pray use not vain repetitions as the heathens use not vain repetitions as the heathens do one of the modern translations says do one of the modern translations says do not go on babbling like the pagans do not go on babbling like the pagans babbling away repeating repetitiously babbling away repeating repetitiously the same things and when i saw that the same things and when i saw that particular translation i was immediately particular translation i was immediately reminded though i'm not sure that jesus reminded though i'm not sure that jesus had that in mind but i think it's quite had that in mind but i think it's quite fitting reminded of the prophet elijah fitting reminded of the prophet elijah on mount carmel with the 400 it was the on mount carmel with the 400 it was the 450th priest of baal 450th priest of baal who were there with their continual who were there with their continual repetitions and they cried and they repetitions and they cried and they danced around the altar where the animal danced around the altar where the animal was was lame to be consumed by a fire was was lame to be consumed by a fire and no fire came they yelled from and no fire came they yelled from for half a day for half a day and god their god baal never heard them and god their god baal never heard them so so it seems as though jesus has that very it seems as though jesus has that very sort of thing in mind and elijah comes sort of thing in mind and elijah comes to him very sarcastically it's in first to him very sarcastically it's in first kings chapter 18 and he says oh perhaps kings chapter 18 and he says oh perhaps your god is asleep or maybe he's gone your god is asleep or maybe he's gone away on a trip and you have to yell away on a trip and you have to yell louder so he'll hear you and obviously louder so he'll hear you and obviously they had no god there was no one there they had no god there was no one there and no one to answer their vain and no one to answer their vain repetitions they're babbling away repetitions they're babbling away but elijah spoke once and spoke quietly but elijah spoke once and spoke quietly and confidently and god responded to him and confidently and god responded to him the god of israel the only true god the god of israel the only true god for they think that they shall be heard for they think that they shall be heard because of their much speaking be not ye therefore like unto them verse 8 for your father knoweth what things 8 for your father knoweth what things you have need of even before you ask him you have need of even before you ask him as someone once said he who already as someone once said he who already knows all things doesn't need detailed knows all things doesn't need detailed information bulletins oh god well now we information bulletins oh god well now we need this and now we need that now we need this and now we need that now we need the other he already knows need the other he already knows and so as is said in the old testament i and so as is said in the old testament i believe in the book of ecclesiastes god believe in the book of ecclesiastes god is in heaven and you are upon earth is in heaven and you are upon earth therefore let your words be few and therefore let your words be few and approach god in the same way that you approach god in the same way that you might approach or at least with the same might approach or at least with the same sort of feeling and and sensitivity uh sort of feeling and and sensitivity uh and diffidence and humility that you and diffidence and humility that you might approach a great and mighty master might approach a great and mighty master upon earth be careful with your words be upon earth be careful with your words be thoughtful of them don't repeat thoughtful of them don't repeat in your prayers uh wonderful flowery in your prayers uh wonderful flowery phrases so that other men might hear you phrases so that other men might hear you and marvel at the fine prayers you gave and marvel at the fine prayers you gave but always keep in mind that you are but always keep in mind that you are approaching the lord of all the universe approaching the lord of all the universe and do so in humility with care after this manner therefore pray ye verse 9 and then verse 9 and then we have we have jesus model prayer in verses 9 through jesus model prayer in verses 9 through 13 commonly referred to as the lord's 13 commonly referred to as the lord's prayer prayer notice notice that he has already said that he has already said that when you pray you should pray that when you pray you should pray privately privately he said that in verse six uh i don't he said that in verse six uh i don't think that means that public prayers are think that means that public prayers are wrong obviously i think he's talking wrong obviously i think he's talking about the individual and if we know about the individual and if we know something of the custom of the times the something of the custom of the times the pharisees customarily stood in the pharisees customarily stood in the marketplaces on the corners of the marketplaces on the corners of the streets and prayed with great words so streets and prayed with great words so that others who passed by could see them that others who passed by could see them that was clearly a sort of prayer that that was clearly a sort of prayer that was very wrong and yet there are was very wrong and yet there are occasions as we know from reading the occasions as we know from reading the letters when public prayers and the at letters when public prayers and the at the time when the time when brothers and sisters are gathered brothers and sisters are gathered together public prayers are quite together public prayers are quite fitting still i think uh the council fitting still i think uh the council about vain repetition and flowery about vain repetition and flowery phrases and so forth would phrases and so forth would we would do well to heed that even today we would do well to heed that even today so the pattern that jesus gives here is so the pattern that jesus gives here is for private prayers but i think also to for private prayers but i think also to some extent it could be the pattern for some extent it could be the pattern for public prayers prayers in the euclesia public prayers prayers in the euclesia as well as well there is an organization about what he there is an organization about what he gives here in this rather brief prayer gives here in this rather brief prayer first of all verses 9 and 10 there are first of all verses 9 and 10 there are three requests three requests that god be glorified then in verses 11 that god be glorified then in verses 11 through the first part of verse 13 there through the first part of verse 13 there are three personal requests three are three personal requests three requests for the individual or for the requests for the individual or for the group on behalf of whom one is praying group on behalf of whom one is praying and then finally the prayer closes in and then finally the prayer closes in the last part of verse 13 with three the last part of verse 13 with three ascriptions of character to god three ascriptions of character to god three blessings upon god or three ways of blessings upon god or three ways of praising god the last part of verse 13. praising god the last part of verse 13. so notice those verses 9 and 10 3 so notice those verses 9 and 10 3 requests that god be glorified requests that god be glorified one thy kingdom come one thy kingdom come to thy will be done in earth as it is in to thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven excuse me i started with verse 10 rather than i started with verse 10 rather than verse nine the first one of course in verse nine the first one of course in verse nine our father which art in verse nine our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name that's heaven hallowed be thy name that's number one number two is thy kingdom number one number two is thy kingdom come number three thy will be done in come number three thy will be done in earth earth now now those three requests that god be those three requests that god be glorified glorified are all quite similar yet i think we can are all quite similar yet i think we can make some distinction between them make some distinction between them to request that god be glorified to request that god be glorified requires requires in the person offering the prayer in the person offering the prayer a knowledge of what god's purpose is a knowledge of what god's purpose is we cannot pray ignorantly that god be we cannot pray ignorantly that god be glorified glorified we must know what it is that god intends we must know what it is that god intends to do so that he can be glorified and so to do so that he can be glorified and so this comes out very plainly this comes out very plainly the first request may thy name be the first request may thy name be hallowed may thy name be holy or blessed hallowed may thy name be holy or blessed by all men by all men and we hope that that is true so far as and we hope that that is true so far as we have opportunity to do it today we have opportunity to do it today and to instruct others to praise god's and to instruct others to praise god's holy name holy name but we know that it will be true in the but we know that it will be true in the future when all men and all the earth future when all men and all the earth will be filled with the glory of god will be filled with the glory of god god's name will be hallowed so to god's name will be hallowed so to understand the point of that request we understand the point of that request we must understand something of what is must understand something of what is generally referred to by christa delkins generally referred to by christa delkins as the doctrine of god manifestation as the doctrine of god manifestation that god intends through his son and that god intends through his son and those who are righteous in his son to those who are righteous in his son to fill the earth with his glory fill the earth with his glory god intends that his name will be upon god intends that his name will be upon all men and all men will glorify him all men and all men will glorify him as paul says first corinthians 15 that as paul says first corinthians 15 that god will be all in all god will be all in all so to pray that sort of prayer requires so to pray that sort of prayer requires us to understand something of the us to understand something of the purpose of god as he has already purpose of god as he has already promised promised the next two requests are very similar the next two requests are very similar and quite often you see them linked and quite often you see them linked together as though there were an equal together as though there were an equal sign between the two in other words thy sign between the two in other words thy kingdom come equals kingdom come equals thy will be done on earth as it is in thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven and that's true if we're looking heaven and that's true if we're looking forward to the kingdom that only when forward to the kingdom that only when the kingdom comes will god's will be the kingdom comes will god's will be done perfectly on the earth done perfectly on the earth but there is a distinction it seems to me between those two between those two we can pray thy kingdom come and that's we can pray thy kingdom come and that's an obvious request an obvious request that god will send his son back to the that god will send his son back to the earth to establish his kingdom and again earth to establish his kingdom and again we have to know what it means we have to know what it means uh when we speak of the gospel of the uh when we speak of the gospel of the kingdom to pray that prayer properly kingdom to pray that prayer properly but the second or the third but the second or the third the third request that we see at the the third request that we see at the last part of verse 10 is something a last part of verse 10 is something a little different we know that when the little different we know that when the kingdom comes god's will kingdom comes god's will will be done will be done on earth as it is in heaven now on earth as it is in heaven now but let's think about right now but let's think about right now it seems to me it seems to me rather rather a puny sort of prayer a puny sort of prayer for any of us to pray for any of us to pray if we were to say if we were to say may god's will be done on earth in the may god's will be done on earth in the future future when christ returns when christ returns and although we'll clap our hands and and although we'll clap our hands and we'll be so happy without taking any particular thought as to how we can go about doing god's will to how we can go about doing god's will right now and so i think we need to right now and so i think we need to expand our understanding of that phrase expand our understanding of that phrase to see it as a prayer to see it as a prayer that god's will be done immediately that god's will be done immediately today today as best we are able and that god give us as best we are able and that god give us strength to do that will strength to do that will so the prayer thy will be done on earth so the prayer thy will be done on earth doesn't just relate to the future it doesn't just relate to the future it relates to here and now and it relates relates to here and now and it relates to you and me to you and me may god's will be done now in my life may god's will be done now in my life and may i find and may i find the knowledge and the strength and the the knowledge and the strength and the faith to do his will faith to do his will this portion of the prayer reminds me of this portion of the prayer reminds me of what jesus said in the garden of what jesus said in the garden of gethsemane not my will but thine be done gethsemane not my will but thine be done which should be i would think of the which should be i would think of the framework of any prayer that we offer framework of any prayer that we offer may god's will be done even now in my may god's will be done even now in my life and in the lives of those who might life and in the lives of those who might touch touch as it is done in heaven as it is done in heaven in that way in a sense we can extend the in that way in a sense we can extend the kingdom of god even into this very day kingdom of god even into this very day and to our very lives because their god and to our very lives because their god will be dwelling if we are doing his will be dwelling if we are doing his will will enough on that then verses 11 through 13 enough on that then verses 11 through 13 the first part we have three personal the first part we have three personal requests requests first one verse 11 give us this day our first one verse 11 give us this day our daily bread the thing to notice about daily bread the thing to notice about that at least what seems important to me that at least what seems important to me is is we're to ask for we're to ask for our provisions what we need our provisions what we need this day this day not tomorrow not tomorrow not next week not next year not next week not next year we're not to ask for money in the bank we're not to ask for money in the bank or security that's going to take us or security that's going to take us through to the end of our lives but through to the end of our lives but we're going to ask for our daily bread we're going to ask for our daily bread and jesus when he gave that as a and jesus when he gave that as a suggestion as to how we should pray suggestion as to how we should pray probably had in mind the children of probably had in mind the children of israel in the wilderness where god israel in the wilderness where god provided for them if god hadn't provided provided for them if god hadn't provided for them the the food that came every for them the the food that came every day the manna and the wilderness they day the manna and the wilderness they would have surely all perished would have surely all perished but god provided for them one day at a but god provided for them one day at a time and at the most once a week he time and at the most once a week he provided for them two days so that they provided for them two days so that they might give their attention on the might give their attention on the sabbath day wholeheartedly to sabbath day wholeheartedly to remembering and praising god remembering and praising god so if we are to pray give us this day so if we are to pray give us this day our daily bread our daily bread while at the same time being anxious and while at the same time being anxious and concerned and frustrated and worried concerned and frustrated and worried about what's going to happen to us next about what's going to happen to us next week or next month or next year week or next month or next year we are thorough hypocrites we are thorough hypocrites and again we see how linked together all and again we see how linked together all the sermon on the mount is because this the sermon on the mount is because this becomes the main theme of the last part becomes the main theme of the last part of chapter six that we'll get to in a of chapter six that we'll get to in a moment lay not up for yourselves moment lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth the treasures upon treasures upon earth the treasures upon earth but rather lay up for yourselves earth but rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven don't be concerned treasures in heaven don't be concerned about the bread for next week for next about the bread for next week for next month month don't worry about that don't worry about that god will take care of it god will take care of it and forgive us our debts as we forgive and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors of course following on in our debtors of course following on in what jesus had said at the very what jesus had said at the very beginning in the blessings blessed are beginning in the blessings blessed are those who are merciful for they are the those who are merciful for they are the only ones who can expect to receive only ones who can expect to receive mercy from god forgive us our debts even mercy from god forgive us our debts even as we forgive our debtors and lead us as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from not into temptation but deliver us from evil the third request that god guide us evil the third request that god guide us by his providence in such a way that by his providence in such a way that though though we undoubtedly will come into trials or we undoubtedly will come into trials or we will be affected by trials and we will be affected by trials and temptations we will not be led into them temptations we will not be led into them in the sense of them taking over our in the sense of them taking over our lives and changing us and removing us lives and changing us and removing us from the path in which we should go i from the path in which we should go i think that's the sense in which he means think that's the sense in which he means do not lead us into temptation he means do not lead us into temptation he means do not let the temptations of the world do not let the temptations of the world overwhelm us overwhelm us even as paul says elsewhere in one of even as paul says elsewhere in one of his letters that god will not tempt us his letters that god will not tempt us or try us above that we're able to bear or try us above that we're able to bear but will with every temptation provide a but will with every temptation provide a way of escape we can't really pray to way of escape we can't really pray to god at least it seems to me we can't god at least it seems to me we can't pray to god that he keep us completely pray to god that he keep us completely away from any temptations because the away from any temptations because the world is filled with temptation and it world is filled with temptation and it is through temptation or trial those two is through temptation or trial those two terms being more or less interchangeable terms being more or less interchangeable that our character is strengthened in that our character is strengthened in development so we can't pray to god to development so we can't pray to god to wrap us up and protect us from wrap us up and protect us from everything that might happen to us or everything that might happen to us or everything that might lead us destroyed everything that might lead us destroyed but we can pray to god that he guide us but we can pray to god that he guide us so that whatever trials we face we can so that whatever trials we face we can go through them go through them uh successfully uh successfully relying upon his strength and they won't relying upon his strength and they won't turn us aside but rather will strengthen turn us aside but rather will strengthen us in our faith and our resolve then we have at the end of verse 13 the three ascriptions are blessings three ascriptions are blessings upon the character of god for thine is upon the character of god for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory the kingdom and the power and the glory forever forever everything belongs to god and that's the everything belongs to god and that's the main point of the last part of the main point of the last part of the prayer prayer though one day we might be in that though one day we might be in that kingdom by the grace of god it won't be kingdom by the grace of god it won't be our kingdom our kingdom it will be god's kingdom because it is it will be god's kingdom because it is his power and it is his glory though one his power and it is his glory though one day that glory may be upon us it is day that glory may be upon us it is still the glory of god as one brother still the glory of god as one brother quite quite fittingly said to desire the kingdom of fittingly said to desire the kingdom of god merely as an end for ourselves god merely as an end for ourselves is to desire not god's kingdom but our is to desire not god's kingdom but our own kingdom own kingdom thy kingdom thy power and thy glory this thy kingdom thy power and thy glory this is the way that jesus ends the prayer now into the last section of matthew chapter 6 beginning with of matthew chapter 6 beginning with verse 19 lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth earth for a moth and rust dot corrupt and for a moth and rust dot corrupt and where thieves break through and steal where thieves break through and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupt and where neither moth nor rust corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor where thieves do not break through nor steal steal for where your treasure is for where your treasure is there will your heart be also there will your heart be also we have here perhaps the most we have here perhaps the most comprehensive of all of christ's comprehensive of all of christ's commandments commandments why is that because it deals with the why is that because it deals with the whole of our lives whole of our lives there is scarcely a time there is scarcely a time in our waking moments and perhaps when in our waking moments and perhaps when we're asleep we're asleep that our thoughts are not somehow that our thoughts are not somehow touching upon touching upon money money that seems rather crass and rather that seems rather crass and rather materialistic materialistic if you look back at your own life and if you look back at your own life and examine yourself carefully you'll find examine yourself carefully you'll find that that's that that's true the provider whether husband or true the provider whether husband or wife or individual who goes out to work wife or individual who goes out to work every day every day though though he or she may have time to think of he or she may have time to think of other things during the day other things during the day is by and large is by and large directing his or her attention toward directing his or her attention toward doing a job on behalf of an employer and doing a job on behalf of an employer and thereby securing a particular amount of thereby securing a particular amount of money money even the housewife who remains at home even the housewife who remains at home is continually concerned if she has any is continually concerned if she has any any regard for prudence with taking the any regard for prudence with taking the money that she has provided with and money that she has provided with and using it to the best advantage being using it to the best advantage being careful about it planning and laying careful about it planning and laying aside and so forth and so forth and then aside and so forth and so forth and then when we come to our leisure time we're when we come to our leisure time we're continually confronted with questions of continually confronted with questions of what we should do with our leisure and what we should do with our leisure and what we should do with our spare money what we should do with our spare money you know is it right to afford this you know is it right to afford this should we buy this should we spend the should we buy this should we spend the money for a vacation should we buy a new money for a vacation should we buy a new car etcetera etcetera etcetera etcetera car etcetera etcetera etcetera etcetera most all of our lives in one way or most all of our lives in one way or another are taken up with our another are taken up with our relationship to money relationship to money to mammon as jesus calls it to mammon as jesus calls it so so how we react how we react how we use how we use money money is in large measure is in large measure how we develop our character we really how we develop our character we really can't escape from it can't escape from it at least in the society in which we live at least in the society in which we live and perhaps there's no society where one and perhaps there's no society where one can go and escape from that kind of can go and escape from that kind of concern concern we need money how much money we need it's hard to say it's hard to say generally the answer to that is a little generally the answer to that is a little bit more than we have bit more than we have but but let's face it we do need money in verse 22 jesus says jesus says the light of the body is the eye the light of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single if therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light thy whole body shall be full of light what is he saying he's talking about what is he saying he's talking about the eye as a symbol for the mind or the the eye as a symbol for the mind or the heart the inner feelings that which a heart the inner feelings that which a person looks upon person looks upon is that which a person desires and wants is that which a person desires and wants so so if your eye if your eye that is your desire your ambition or that is your desire your ambition or your goal that you're looking for your goal that you're looking for if your eye is single if your eye is single in other words if you have established in other words if you have established in your mind that there is one thing in your mind that there is one thing toward which you're pointing toward which you're pointing then your whole body will be full of then your whole body will be full of light light everything you do everything you do will be directed toward that one goal jesus said in another place the children of this world are wiser in their of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of life generation than the children of life because they establish one goal in their because they establish one goal in their lives so it might be a reprehensible lives so it might be a reprehensible and yet if that's their goal they don't and yet if that's their goal they don't let anything stand in their way they aim let anything stand in their way they aim for that one goal with a single eye with for that one goal with a single eye with a single desire and they achieve it a single desire and they achieve it the children of life can get bogged down the children of life can get bogged down they can find themselves for a while they can find themselves for a while looking at one goal looking at one goal and then maybe on sunday mornings and then maybe on sunday mornings looking at an entirely different goal looking at an entirely different goal and be thoroughly confused this is what and be thoroughly confused this is what jesus is saying in verse 23 if your eye jesus is saying in verse 23 if your eye be evil in other words the opposite of be evil in other words the opposite of single if you have double vision so to single if you have double vision so to speak speak and we know what that is naturally if and we know what that is naturally if you have double vision your whole body you have double vision your whole body will be full of darkness you won't know will be full of darkness you won't know where to look you'll be looking here where to look you'll be looking here you'll be looking there you'll be you'll be looking there you'll be looking back here again it'll be a looking back here again it'll be a thoroughly confusing condition thoroughly confusing condition if therefore the light that is in thee if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness be darkness how great is that darkness so he comes to the punch line then in so he comes to the punch line then in verse 24. verse 24. look at the way that you handle money look at the way that you handle money if you make money if you make money your master your master and by money or mammon we mean any of and by money or mammon we mean any of the things that you can do with that the things that you can do with that money if you make that your master money if you make that your master then you cannot at the same time serve then you cannot at the same time serve god god no man can serve two masters either he no man can serve two masters either he will hate the one and love the other or will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise else he will hold to the one and despise and push aside the other and push aside the other one has to make a choice in one's life one has to make a choice in one's life ye cannot serve god and man ye cannot serve god and man and yet as we're talking about money and yet as we're talking about money here it's here it's the most natural thing in the world it's the most natural thing in the world it's inescapable almost inescapable almost it's the most natural thing in the world it's the most natural thing in the world for us to desire treasure now and for us to desire treasure now and treasure later treasure later for us to justify whatever level of for us to justify whatever level of money seeking money seeking we find we feel comfortable with or we find we feel comfortable with or whatever we can accommodate whatever we can accommodate for us to justify whatever level of for us to justify whatever level of spending that we can accommodate spending that we can accommodate and feel perfectly righteous in doing so and feel perfectly righteous in doing so but in reality find ourselves jumping but in reality find ourselves jumping back and forth between two opinions back and forth between two opinions between two goals between two goals first of all spending a day or two or a first of all spending a day or two or a week or two satisfying our baser week or two satisfying our baser instincts so we clothe it with some of instincts so we clothe it with some of the best motives that we can think of the best motives that we can think of providing for one's family being prudent providing for one's family being prudent being careful being careful enjoying life getting recreation etc etc enjoying life getting recreation etc etc etc etc we spend a little time doing that and we spend a little time doing that and then we find ourselves with an entirely then we find ourselves with an entirely different goal jumping back and forth different goal jumping back and forth serving two masters the parody that serving two masters the parody that jesus has in mind is obviously the slave jesus has in mind is obviously the slave who can't figure out who his master is who can't figure out who his master is and who has to jump when one calls and and who has to jump when one calls and then jump from the other calls and is then jump from the other calls and is running continually back and forth running continually back and forth between the two pretty soon neither between the two pretty soon neither master is going to have anything to do master is going to have anything to do with that kind of a slave that kind of a with that kind of a slave that kind of a servant servant jesus says you cannot serve two masters jesus says you cannot serve two masters [Music] what is what is the meaning of this word mammon mammon mammon is apparently from a hebrew root mammon is apparently from a hebrew root word meaning something in which one word meaning something in which one trusts trusts uh actually more literally perhaps uh actually more literally perhaps something which is true and solid and you know the world is filled with people who figure there's nothing people who figure there's nothing more solid more solid you know there's nothing more real and you know there's nothing more real and fundamental than wealth fundamental than wealth you know money answers everything you know money answers everything money can talk money can buy money can talk money can buy anything anything if you have enough money you don't need if you have enough money you don't need anything else anything else you don't need love you don't need you don't need love you don't need affection you don't need respect affection you don't need respect money will get it for you money will get it for you money by itself money by itself so so the word mammon here the word mammon here is is a word that a word that is kind of flexible in a sense it's is kind of flexible in a sense it's something good it's something in which something good it's something in which one can trust it's something which is one can trust it's something which is true and reliable in fact true and reliable in fact supposedly this word is directly related supposedly this word is directly related to the hebrew word amen to the hebrew word amen which means let it be so or it is true but it seems as though jesus is using it in a rather sarcastic way in a rather sarcastic way you know you know money or wealth money or wealth is that which is true and that which is is that which is true and that which is real real only in an ironic sense it's that which only in an ironic sense it's that which the world thinks is real but there's no the world thinks is real but there's no substance to it at all substance to it at all it is that in which man trusts it is that in which man trusts but he has put his trust in it but he has put his trust in it mistakenly mistakenly it's like the bruised reed that if he it's like the bruised reed that if he leans upon it will break and pierce them leans upon it will break and pierce them and will not provide any support and will not provide any support whatsoever that's what jesus says about whatsoever that's what jesus says about the wealth of this world the mammon of the wealth of this world the mammon of unrighteousness unrighteousness man and then as jesus expresses it means man and then as jesus expresses it means riches worldly possessions and pleasures riches worldly possessions and pleasures this acquisitiveness this acquisitiveness this need to acquire and have and use this need to acquire and have and use which is really which is really greed greed is so universally acceptable that it's is so universally acceptable that it's almost heresy to question it even among almost heresy to question it even among believers believers to say to say that money is not all that important that money is not all that important because deep down because deep down our inner being rebels against that our inner being rebels against that enormously enormously of course it's important just consider for a moment the possibility of a job promotion comes the possibility of a job promotion comes up up [Music] [Music] it'll mean a bit more money it'll mean a bit more money maybe a bit more responsibility maybe a bit more responsibility maybe being taken away from the family maybe being taken away from the family or from the equation from the truth a or from the equation from the truth a bit more bit more and we consider the possibility of that and we consider the possibility of that promotion promotion we think of the possible dangers we think of the possible dangers involved in it involved in it and then we begin to rationalize and then we begin to rationalize well i could use the extra money well i could use the extra money i could pay off the debts i could pay off the debts i could be a little more settled and i could be a little more settled and established i wouldn't have to worry established i wouldn't have to worry about such and such or so and so maybe i about such and such or so and so maybe i could even give a little more to the could even give a little more to the meeting to the work of god i know it'll mean some sacrifices but surely god will understand surely god will understand and pretty soon we've rationalized and pretty soon we've rationalized ourselves into accepting every ourselves into accepting every possibility possibility of more money that comes along of more money that comes along we stopped a little bit we thought about we stopped a little bit we thought about it a little bit we questioned it a little bit we questioned a little bit but we went ahead a little bit but we went ahead consider consider the world around us with all the the world around us with all the possibilities of job promotions possibilities of job promotions the consumer goods that the consumer goods that every time you buy something every time you buy something you're shocked six months later to find you're shocked six months later to find out that you bought a model that's now out that you bought a model that's now out of date and you need something out of date and you need something better and something more expensive and better and something more expensive and a new attachment a new attachment the good life that we see portrayed in the good life that we see portrayed in magazines magazines newspapers newspapers radio and television radio and television you can't get away from it if you don't you can't get away from it if you don't have a radio and television you drive have a radio and television you drive down the road and you see the billboards down the road and you see the billboards telling you buy the newest model that telling you buy the newest model that just came out this week forget about the just came out this week forget about the one you had last year it's no good one you had last year it's no good anymore anymore you know the whole of our society you know the whole of our society is founded inexorably on this principle is founded inexorably on this principle that everything has to be recycled that everything has to be recycled including your money you know it's not including your money you know it's not even good enough to put in your pocket even good enough to put in your pocket and save it for a rainy day you have to and save it for a rainy day you have to go out and give it to someone else so it go out and give it to someone else so it can can spur on the economy and everybody will spur on the economy and everybody will be happier for the experience of the be happier for the experience of the money passing through so many hands we consider all those things and we recognize that we're a part of the world recognize that we're a part of the world that we can't escape from the world that we can't escape from the world entirely entirely and yet do we even stop to examine and yet do we even stop to examine ourselves ourselves how many times in our lives that we how many times in our lives that we consider consider a job promotion a job promotion uh the purchase of something that we uh the purchase of something that we could afford but we didn't really know could afford but we didn't really know whether or not we needed whether or not we needed maybe deep down we knew we didn't need maybe deep down we knew we didn't need it how many times we considered that it how many times we considered that and said no to ourselves and said no to ourselves i think if we're fair we say not very i think if we're fair we say not very often we pamper ourselves we take very often we pamper ourselves we take very good care of ourselves jesus says you cannot serve god and mammon mammon in this as in all things in this as in all things we can't ever get in the position of we can't ever get in the position of examining examining our brothers we have to examine our brothers we have to examine ourselves ourselves and yet having said that i have to say and yet having said that i have to say let's get on with the business let's let's get on with the business let's examine ourselves examine ourselves let's think about these things and let's think about these things and question some of the things we do question some of the things we do i'm not going to do it i'm not going to i'm not going to do it i'm not going to question any one of you i don't know question any one of you i don't know enough about your personal lives even to enough about your personal lives even to begin to do so and if i go home to the begin to do so and if i go home to the brothers and sisters that i live with brothers and sisters that i live with i'm not going to look at them and i'm not going to look at them and question them i can't question them i can't but i'm going to try to tell them that but i'm going to try to tell them that they should question themselves they should question themselves even as i try to question myself why shouldn't we have all the wonderful things that money can buy things that money can buy if we have enough money to indulge if we have enough money to indulge ourselves why shouldn't we do it ourselves why shouldn't we do it any good reason jesus explains why why man cannot serve god and mammon man cannot serve god and mammon in the section beginning in verse 25 in the section beginning in verse 25 and he does it by a continual refrain and he does it by a continual refrain that appears four times in those verses that appears four times in those verses in verse 25 in verse 27 in verse 28 in verse 25 in verse 27 in verse 28 verse 31 i take it back five times verse verse 31 i take it back five times verse 34 as well five times he says 34 as well five times he says take no thought there's a little difficulty with that translation translation uh modern versions say something like uh modern versions say something like this do not be anxious about this do not be anxious about such and such and so and so that is the reason why we cannot trust in riches that is the reason why we in riches that is the reason why we shouldn't indulge ourselves in shouldn't indulge ourselves in everything that we can possibly afford everything that we can possibly afford because if we do because if we do we have in a sense we have in a sense moved ourselves away from the position that we enunciate when we pray give us this day our daily bread this day our daily bread we have moved ourselves into a position we have moved ourselves into a position where where the daily necessities to satisfy our the daily necessities to satisfy our lives and to keep us alive that we might lives and to keep us alive that we might serve god have become not nearly enough serve god have become not nearly enough and there's always something more to be and there's always something more to be had to be acquired to be used and had to be acquired to be used and consumed and consumed and enjoyed so jesus says enjoyed so jesus says if you start down that road if you start down that road then you find yourself being anxious then you find yourself being anxious about all kinds of things about all kinds of things being anxious about where the money is being anxious about where the money is going to come from to buy the things going to come from to buy the things that you are anxious about having that that you are anxious about having that you didn't really need so that you could you didn't really need so that you could uh look good to the joneses who left uh look good to the joneses who left live next door because you were anxious live next door because you were anxious about how they thought that you might about how they thought that you might look when you really didn't need to be look when you really didn't need to be and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth in a constant renewing and recurring in a constant renewing and recurring cycle never quite coming to a cycle never quite coming to a satisfaction because you're chasing the satisfaction because you're chasing the wrong thing wrong thing jesus says don't worry jesus says don't worry about those things about those things do not be anxious do not be anxious about those things about those things god will provide every day he will god will provide every day he will provide for you what is necessary if you provide for you what is necessary if you simply set out to serve him simply set out to serve him and do the best job you can and do the best job you can now now if i say that if i say that i wouldn't mean that to be i wouldn't mean that to be misinterpreted to say you needn't worry misinterpreted to say you needn't worry about doing a job if wherever you happen about doing a job if wherever you happen to work because you should and there is to work because you should and there is a reason provided for that a reason provided for that as jesus says and as paul says and i'm as jesus says and as paul says and i'm paraphrasing we must serve our earthly paraphrasing we must serve our earthly masters as though we were serving god we masters as though we were serving god we must be honest with them we must be hard must be honest with them we must be hard working with them we must give them the working with them we must give them the best that we can muster in exchange for best that we can muster in exchange for what they're giving us and there comes what they're giving us and there comes the rationale for doing a good job and the rationale for doing a good job and trying to get ahead trying to get ahead however you want to express that at your however you want to express that at your job you are doing what you can to the job you are doing what you can to the best of your ability because god has best of your ability because god has told you to not because of what you're told you to not because of what you're going to get out of it right now going to get out of it right now if that were the case then you'd be just if that were the case then you'd be just like the pharisees and the hypocrites like the pharisees and the hypocrites who have their reward now rather than who have their reward now rather than having their reward later having their reward later so so nothing i'm saying should be interpreted nothing i'm saying should be interpreted as suggesting that we live the as suggesting that we live the lackadaisical lifestyle that doesn't go lackadaisical lifestyle that doesn't go about doing a good job at school or a about doing a good job at school or a good job in the home or a good job at good job in the home or a good job at the workplace the workplace that's just not true we should do the that's just not true we should do the best we can doing it heartily best we can doing it heartily as unto the lord that's the precise as unto the lord that's the precise wording of one of the quotations in the wording of one of the quotations in the new testament jesus says we should not worry we should not worry because at the root of because at the root of the misuse of money the misuse of money there is this there is this business about worry business about worry do not worry about anything do not worry about anything and in verses 25 through and in verses 25 through 34 34 jesus gives seven reasons why we should jesus gives seven reasons why we should not worry not worry worry is a sin worry is a sin fretting and being anxious about fretting and being anxious about tomorrow or having things or tomorrow or having things or accumulating things or using things accumulating things or using things being anxious and worrying about being anxious and worrying about anything is a sin anything is a sin unless it's being anxious and worrying unless it's being anxious and worrying perhaps about how best we can serve god perhaps about how best we can serve god and in that sense i don't think worry or and in that sense i don't think worry or anxiety is the proper word to use anxiety is the proper word to use at any rate jesus says do not worry be at any rate jesus says do not worry be not anxious about your life not anxious about your life that's verse 25 that's verse 25 about about uh uh adding to your span of life that's verse adding to your span of life that's verse 27 in other words how long am i going to 27 in other words how long am i going to live and am i going to be healthy while live and am i going to be healthy while i'm doing it don't worry about that he i'm doing it don't worry about that he says says in verse 28 he says don't worry about in verse 28 he says don't worry about raymond or close raymond or close in verse 31 he says don't worry about in verse 31 he says don't worry about what you're going to eat or drink what you're going to eat or drink in verse 34 he says don't worry about in verse 34 he says don't worry about tomorrow tomorrow because you've already prayed to god because you've already prayed to god give me today my daily bread and give me today my daily bread and tomorrow you can pray the same and he'll tomorrow you can pray the same and he'll do it again so don't even worry about do it again so don't even worry about tomorrow tomorrow so so there are seven reasons why we shouldn't there are seven reasons why we shouldn't worry about food and clothing and what's worry about food and clothing and what's going to happen tomorrow and even our going to happen tomorrow and even our health or our very lives seven reasons health or our very lives seven reasons and they are enumerated here in these and they are enumerated here in these verses verses in verse 25 we have the first reason in verse 25 we have the first reason is not the life more than meat and the is not the life more than meat and the body more than ramen in other words body more than ramen in other words jesus is saying that life itself is more jesus is saying that life itself is more important than even the food that we put important than even the food that we put into our body or the clothes that we into our body or the clothes that we wear the absolute essentials are all wear the absolute essentials are all that need concern us and we have prayed that need concern us and we have prayed to god that he give us those and we can to god that he give us those and we can trust that he will trust that he will do we risk our lives for example to save do we risk our lives for example to save our best suit or our best toy when the our best suit or our best toy when the house is burning down no we run for our house is burning down no we run for our lives because the life is the most lives because the life is the most important thing and god has said he will important thing and god has said he will take care of that life and if this life take care of that life and if this life even now is more important than the food even now is more important than the food and the clothes and the other and the clothes and the other necessities that go to support that life necessities that go to support that life then how much more the life that is to then how much more the life that is to come so jesus says the life is more than come so jesus says the life is more than meat and the body itself is more than meat and the body itself is more than rhema rhema so don't worry about meat and raymond so don't worry about meat and raymond and so forth in verse 26 the second and so forth in verse 26 the second reason why we shouldn't worry reason why we shouldn't worry behold the fowls of the air for they so behold the fowls of the air for they so not neither do they reap nor gather into not neither do they reap nor gather into barns yet your heavenly father feedeth barns yet your heavenly father feedeth them are ye not much better than they them are ye not much better than they the second reason is the birds don't the second reason is the birds don't even worry even worry and you're worth a lot more than any and you're worth a lot more than any sparrow why should you worry you are the children of god children of god surely if god cares for the birds surely if god cares for the birds he'll care for you he'll care for you third reason in verse 27 third reason in verse 27 which of you by taking thought or by which of you by taking thought or by being anxious can add one cubit unto his being anxious can add one cubit unto his stature that's the king james version stature that's the king james version the rsv says which of you by being the rsv says which of you by being anxious can add one cubic unto his span anxious can add one cubic unto his span of life of life and that's much more reasonable to say and that's much more reasonable to say that you're going to add one cubit to that you're going to add one cubit to your stature would be that a man who's your stature would be that a man who's six feet power would suddenly become six feet power would suddenly become seven and a half feet tall and that's seven and a half feet tall and that's not very reasonable the word literally not very reasonable the word literally means one span of life and a cubit then means one span of life and a cubit then stands for a short space of time stands for a short space of time not distance in height but time of one's not distance in height but time of one's life life which of you by being anxious can which of you by being anxious can increase your span of life even even by increase your span of life even even by a few moments a few moments and here there's very practical reason and here there's very practical reason for what jesus is saying because modern for what jesus is saying because modern doctors physicians for example tell us doctors physicians for example tell us that one of the things that shortens that one of the things that shortens life more than any other is continual life more than any other is continual worry worry so even the doctors are on the side of so even the doctors are on the side of jesus when they tell us don't worry jesus when they tell us don't worry get stressed out of your lives and get stressed out of your lives and you'll live longer you'll live longer jesus says which of you by worrying is jesus says which of you by worrying is going to live any longer in fact you'll going to live any longer in fact you'll probably decrease your span of life by probably decrease your span of life by all the worry that you indulge in all the worry that you indulge in fourth reason verses 28 through 30. fourth reason verses 28 through 30. and why be anxious for clothes and why be anxious for clothes consider consider the lilies of the field how they grow the lilies of the field how they grow they toil not neither do they spin and they toil not neither do they spin and yet i say unto you that even solomon in yet i say unto you that even solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one all his glory was not arrayed like one of these wherefore if god so clothed the of these wherefore if god so clothed the grass of the field which today is and grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven tomorrow is cast into the oven literally what he's talking about here literally what he's talking about here this is a figure of speech for this is a figure of speech for the the the burning hot winds blowing in off the the burning hot winds blowing in off the desert and and drying up the grass of desert and and drying up the grass of the fields practically overnight when the fields practically overnight when summer came uh tomorrow is cast into the summer came uh tomorrow is cast into the oven of that burning fiery wind that oven of that burning fiery wind that comes from the desert comes from the desert shall he not much more clothe you shall he not much more clothe you o ye of little faith if god takes such o ye of little faith if god takes such trouble with the flowers trouble with the flowers that are soon going to die anyway how that are soon going to die anyway how much more trouble will he take with us much more trouble will he take with us us who are made in his image us who are made in his image reason number five in verse 32 for after reason number five in verse 32 for after all these things do the gentiles seek all these things do the gentiles seek or the heathen seek to me this is a very very forceful reason why we should not worry reason why we should not worry jesus says and it's very blunt and it's jesus says and it's very blunt and it's very simple very simple don't worry don't worry because the godless people around you because the godless people around you are worrying are worrying and that by itself is almost reason and that by itself is almost reason enough isn't it why we shouldn't do it enough isn't it why we shouldn't do it if you stop and think about that if you stop and think about that if you're ever puzzled if you're ever puzzled about should i do such and such a thing about should i do such and such a thing or should i not do it or should i not do it then you can almost always answer your then you can almost always answer your quandary by saying is it something the quandary by saying is it something the world around me does is it something world around me does is it something that the godless gentiles are doing all that the godless gentiles are doing all the time then maybe that's reason enough the time then maybe that's reason enough in itself in itself for me for me not to do the same thing not to do the same thing it's the reason that jesus gives here it's the reason that jesus gives here after all these things with all these after all these things with all these anxieties and concerns the gentiles are anxieties and concerns the gentiles are worried worried so why should you be worried so why should you be worried in other words if you see all the world in other words if you see all the world rushing off in one direction rushing off in one direction but the best thing you can do is pause but the best thing you can do is pause for a moment and consider seriously for a moment and consider seriously going in the opposite direction yourself going in the opposite direction yourself reason number six reason number six last part of verse 32 for your heavenly last part of verse 32 for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all father knoweth that ye have need of all these things in other words these things in other words just like jesus said in verse 8 of just like jesus said in verse 8 of chapter 6 when he introduced the lord's chapter 6 when he introduced the lord's prayer for your father knoweth what prayer for your father knoweth what things you have need of before ye ask things you have need of before ye ask him and in that thought there is the him and in that thought there is the basis for great faith and great trust basis for great faith and great trust god knows what you need god knows what you need you can tell him you can remind him once you can tell him you can remind him once or twice or twice but you needn't be concerned about going but you needn't be concerned about going out worrying and fretting and trying to out worrying and fretting and trying to get those things for yourself get those things for yourself god knows what you really need god knows what you really need just as the parent knows what the child just as the parent knows what the child needs and the child need not worry needs and the child need not worry because the parent will provide because the parent will provide so god will provide for you so god will provide for you and in verse 34 be not anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself tomorrow will be anxious for itself sufficient unto the day is the evil sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof in other words let the day's own thereof in other words let the day's own troubles be sufficient for that day troubles be sufficient for that day or as we might say live one day at a or as we might say live one day at a time time because we do because we do we can't live our lives we can't live our lives carrying around carrying around the worries and frustrations of last the worries and frustrations of last week week bursting us down and keeping us from bursting us down and keeping us from doing what we should do today doing what we should do today we can't live our lives we can't live our lives by carrying around all the worries by carrying around all the worries and the expectations of what's going to and the expectations of what's going to happen next week happen next week if we do we'll be so burdened down we if we do we'll be so burdened down we won't be able to make the proper won't be able to make the proper decisions today decisions today as to how we should serve god as to how we should serve god we should live one day at a time the we should live one day at a time the world is such a wicked place world is such a wicked place jesus said that we need all of our jesus said that we need all of our mental resources mental resources to fight against the temptations of the to fight against the temptations of the trials with god's help and seek to trials with god's help and seek to overcome them overcome them so don't borrow worries from next week so don't borrow worries from next week don't mortgage today so that you can buy don't mortgage today so that you can buy concerns tomorrow concerns tomorrow because today is the day of your because today is the day of your salvation today salvation today this day this day and this is a universally true statement and this is a universally true statement this day right now is the only day in this day right now is the only day in which we have to live which we have to live by god's grace there may be another by god's grace there may be another but this day and this moment right now but this day and this moment right now is the only moment in all the span of is the only moment in all the span of our lives our lives in which we have an opportunity to do in which we have an opportunity to do anything anything and even as we talk about it that moment and even as we talk about it that moment is gone to be replaced by another and is gone to be replaced by another and we've spent one moment doing nothing we've spent one moment doing nothing except thinking about it except thinking about it this moment today this moment today is the day of your salvation sufficient is the day of your salvation sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof unto the day is the evil thereof as jesus puts it in verse 34. and so we conclude then by considering verse 33 verse 33 jesus says seek ye first the kingdom of jesus says seek ye first the kingdom of god and that word first doesn't mean you god and that word first doesn't mean you can do it for a little while and then can do it for a little while and then put it aside and go on to number two and put it aside and go on to number two and number three and number four on your number three and number four on your list list but what he means is seek the kingdom of but what he means is seek the kingdom of god first of all all the time having it god first of all all the time having it foremost in your lives wherever you go foremost in your lives wherever you go and whatever you do and whatever you do seek the kingdom of god and his seek the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these other things righteousness and all these other things that you might otherwise be anxious that you might otherwise be anxious about will be added unto you about will be added unto you the question is do we have the courage the question is do we have the courage do we have the faith do we have the faith to truly put god first in all things to truly put god first in all things and i say to you that in my and i say to you that in my opinion or whatever it might be worth opinion or whatever it might be worth the materialism of the world around us the materialism of the world around us in this western society in this western society is probably the greatest threat that we is probably the greatest threat that we will ever experience to our faith will ever experience to our faith as individuals are collectively in our as individuals are collectively in our epplegias epplegias we can talk about the catholic church we can talk about the catholic church with its false doctrines we can talk with its false doctrines we can talk about the churches around us that would about the churches around us that would lead us astray we can talk about lead us astray we can talk about pentecostalism pentecostalism we can talk about we can talk about the the sins of the the sins of adultery and divorce adultery and divorce we can talk about any number of things we can talk about any number of things that might threaten the body that might threaten the body but all the time like a trojan horse the but all the time like a trojan horse the greatest enemy that we have has already greatest enemy that we have has already worked its way inside the city worked its way inside the city and there it is in our very middle and there it is in our very middle the materialism of a society that tells the materialism of a society that tells us continually you can have anything you us continually you can have anything you want want just work for it and just spend the just work for it and just spend the money and buy on the installment plan money and buy on the installment plan and nothing will ever be withheld from and nothing will ever be withheld from you it is the temptation you it is the temptation of an idolatry of a false god that will of an idolatry of a false god that will turn us away from the true god more turn us away from the true god more surely than anything else in the world surely than anything else in the world around us around us paul says covetousness is idolatry paul says covetousness is idolatry there is no question about it and he there is no question about it and he says that because says that because those things that we covet and we desire those things that we covet and we desire that we want to have can very easily that we want to have can very easily work their way into our affections so work their way into our affections so that god is found to take a second place that god is found to take a second place or no place at all or no place at all anything that we have elevated anything that we have elevated to the position of desiring to the position of desiring and wanting and wanting and using and using [Music] [Music] and enjoying and enjoying has the potential of replacing god has the potential of replacing god and therefore has the potential of and therefore has the potential of becoming an idol becoming an idol we can find ourselves very easily we can find ourselves very easily serving a false god serving a false god and so i would conclude with and so i would conclude with another saying of jesus that has a direct bearing it seems to me on this particular discussion on this particular discussion when he says in luke chapter 12 and when he says in luke chapter 12 and verse 15 verse 15 take heed and beware of covetousness take heed and beware of covetousness for a man's life consists of not for a man's life consists of not in the abundance of the things which he in the abundance of the things which he possesses possesses in other words never should we suppose that we are that we are what we have never should we suppose that what we have that what we have what we possess what we possess is more important than who we are is more important than who we are a man's life ultimately in the sight of a man's life ultimately in the sight of god god consists in who he is consists in who he is and the character that he brings before and the character that he brings before the judgment seat the judgment seat all the other things that have occupied all the other things that have occupied us like children playing in our us like children playing in our in our playpens with all of our toys in our playpens with all of our toys around the balance around the balance all of those other things that could all of those other things that could have occupied us throughout our lives have occupied us throughout our lives will one day be taken away from us will one day be taken away from us as if by a thief in the night as if by a thief in the night and we'll find ourselves face to face and we'll find ourselves face to face with christ with christ with nothing to show for ourselves not our cars not our homes not our bonds not our bank accounts not not our bonds not our bank accounts not our securities our securities not even our accomplishments in the sense of accumulating and getting and spending and spending but the only thing we'll have to show but the only thing we'll have to show for ourselves for ourselves is what we are is what we are what we have become what we have become take heed take heed for a man's life consistent not for a man's life consistent not in the abundance of the things which he in the abundance of the things which he possesses

Location:WCF (1985)

Topic:Sermon on the Mount

Title:Class 5

Speaker:Booker, George

Download:1985-ecbs-g-booker-5.mp3

Source: archive.moorestownchristadelphians.org |

Transcript

at the very beginning in the first of these classes about the sermon on the these classes about the sermon on the mount that there were the eight mount that there were the eight blessings given in the first part of blessings given in the first part of matthew chapter five and they were matthew chapter five and they were matched by matched by the eight curses are the eight warnings the eight curses are the eight warnings that jesus gives in matthew chapter 23 that jesus gives in matthew chapter 23 it's as though he gives an opening it's as though he gives an opening speech to his ministry and then a speech to his ministry and then a closing speech to his ministry the closing speech to his ministry the opening speech emphasizes all the opening speech emphasizes all the positive things blessed are the me positive things blessed are the me blessed are the merciful the closing blessed are the merciful the closing speech is a warning to the pharisees speech is a warning to the pharisees telling them beware or woe unto you if telling them beware or woe unto you if you behave in this way and each one of you behave in this way and each one of the woes or each one of these bewares the woes or each one of these bewares there are eight of them in matthew there are eight of them in matthew chapter 23 are are very much parallel to chapter 23 are are very much parallel to the blessings that he gave at the the blessings that he gave at the beginning and so blessings at the beginning and so blessings at the beginning and curses at the end and both beginning and curses at the end and both of them directed for the same kinds of of them directed for the same kinds of conduct or or the negative one against conduct or or the negative one against the other uh the opposite sort of the other uh the opposite sort of conduct receives the curse from the one conduct receives the curse from the one that receives the blessing that receives the blessing [Music] [Music] keeping that in mind we notice here that keeping that in mind we notice here that jesus in both of these jesus in both of these discourses of his gives that basic discourses of his gives that basic statement of what is at the foundation statement of what is at the foundation of the law and the prophets what you of the law and the prophets what you would that men should do unto you do ye would that men should do unto you do ye even to them also he states it even to them also he states it positively toward the end of the sermon positively toward the end of the sermon on the mount and also in matthew chapter on the mount and also in matthew chapter 22 the last few verses of that chapter 22 the last few verses of that chapter immediately before he enters into the immediately before he enters into the woes woe unto you scribes and pharisees woes woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites he gives precisely the same hypocrites he gives precisely the same statement when he says the whole law is statement when he says the whole law is comprehended in these two statements comprehended in these two statements love god and love your neighbor as love god and love your neighbor as yourself so it's a very fundamental yourself so it's a very fundamental principle that he mentions at the very principle that he mentions at the very beginning and at the very end as a part beginning and at the very end as a part of his two major discourses to the of his two major discourses to the nation of israel verses 13 and 14 enter ye in at the straight gate he says enter ye in at the straight gate he says for wide is the gate and broad is the for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there there be which go in there because strait is the gate and narrow is because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth into life and few the way which leadeth into life and few there be which find it there be which find it he's basing his statement here on he's basing his statement here on a topographical or topological fact of a topographical or topological fact of the layout of jerusalem the layout of jerusalem the approach to jerusalem was a very the approach to jerusalem was a very narrow road narrow road that led up a hill into the city itself that led up a hill into the city itself and from jerusalem a very broad road led and from jerusalem a very broad road led down into the valley of gehenna down into the valley of gehenna where the trash the rubbish was to be where the trash the rubbish was to be collected and burned where the bodies of collected and burned where the bodies of criminals and those who could not afford criminals and those who could not afford burial or their families could not burial or their families could not afford burial were to be cast so jesus afford burial were to be cast so jesus says there is a narrow road which leads says there is a narrow road which leads up into the city of god up into the city of god but there is a broad road leading away but there is a broad road leading away from that city leading a way to from that city leading a way to destruction leading away to the garbage destruction leading away to the garbage dump out of which there is no escape dump out of which there is no escape [Music] [Music] jesus of course speaks of himself as the jesus of course speaks of himself as the way way john 14 6 i am the way the truth and the john 14 6 i am the way the truth and the life no man can come into the father life no man can come into the father except through me except through me he tells us to walk in that way which is he tells us to walk in that way which is jesus himself jesus himself not a literal pathway but a way of life not a literal pathway but a way of life down which we walk following the pattern down which we walk following the pattern of all the things that jesus has been of all the things that jesus has been telling us in these chapters i am the telling us in these chapters i am the way walk in that way by showing forth my way walk in that way by showing forth my character in everything that you do character in everything that you do everything that you think everything that you think everything that you say everything that you say [Music] [Music] in verses 15 through 20 in verses 15 through 20 he says that we should beware of false he says that we should beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves you shall know them by their wolves you shall know them by their fruits fruits they are those he says who profess many they are those he says who profess many righteous things according to the law righteous things according to the law but they live but they live in that other kind of righteousness they in that other kind of righteousness they live in the sort of righteousness that live in the sort of righteousness that is interested only in details but not in is interested only in details but not in changing the heart of the individual changing the heart of the individual they're interested only in judging they're interested only in judging others that they might elevate others that they might elevate themselves they are interested in themselves they are interested in justifying themselves and making justifying themselves and making themselves proud and righteous in the themselves proud and righteous in the eyes of other men eyes of other men but not justifying themselves in the but not justifying themselves in the eyes of god eyes of god beware a false prophecy says you will beware a false prophecy says you will know them by their fruits you will know know them by their fruits you will know them by their actions them by their actions do men gather breaks of thorns or figs do men gather breaks of thorns or figs of thistles even so every good tree of thistles even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit a man who goes about professing to live in a certain way and believe in certain in a certain way and believe in certain principles principles in effect you may need to judge to some in effect you may need to judge to some extent extent at least to keep from being read at least to keep from being read astrayed by the words that he speaks you astrayed by the words that he speaks you may need to observe his accents to see may need to observe his accents to see how real his words are how real his words are and at any rate at the very least you and at any rate at the very least you should be judging your own actions based should be judging your own actions based on your own on your own words by their fruits you shall know words by their fruits you shall know them god by our fruits will know us them god by our fruits will know us and here certainly he's speaking of the and here certainly he's speaking of the fruit of the spirit that paul refers to fruit of the spirit that paul refers to in galatians 5 the fruit of the spirit in galatians 5 the fruit of the spirit that which is produced by the teaching that which is produced by the teaching of god's spirit in his word is love and of god's spirit in his word is love and joy and peace and mercy and joy and peace and mercy and long-suffering and gentleness and long-suffering and gentleness and meekness against which there is no law meekness against which there is no law these are the things that god intends us these are the things that god intends us to show forth jesus said something very similar at the beginning of matthew chapter 23 when he beginning of matthew chapter 23 when he says woe unto you scribes and pharisees says woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites hypocrites he says to those who were listening he says to those who were listening don't do the things that the pharisees don't do the things that the pharisees do do you might listen to their words and they you might listen to their words and they might sound very good but they don't might sound very good but they don't live by their words so don't watch the live by their words so don't watch the things they do and do them you might things they do and do them you might want to do the things they tell you if want to do the things they tell you if they come from god's word but don't try they come from god's word but don't try to live the way in which they live by to live the way in which they live by their fruits you shall know them then verse 21. we're coming to the close of everything we're coming to the close of everything that jesus has been saying that jesus has been saying not to close simply of chapter 7 but the not to close simply of chapter 7 but the close of chapters 5 6 and 7 his entire close of chapters 5 6 and 7 his entire discourse and so what he's saying here discourse and so what he's saying here should be understood in the context of a should be understood in the context of a climax or a concluding statement for climax or a concluding statement for everything that he said earlier everything that he said earlier beginning with matthew chapter 5. beginning with matthew chapter 5. not everyone he says that sayeth unto me not everyone he says that sayeth unto me lord lord shall enter into the kingdom lord lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of of heaven but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven my father which is in heaven many will find themselves at last in the many will find themselves at last in the broad way broad way who have assumed all along they were who have assumed all along they were walking in the narrow way walking in the narrow way and yet the judgment reveals them for and yet the judgment reveals them for something altogether different again something altogether different again many will say to me in that day lord many will say to me in that day lord lord have we not prophesied in thy name lord have we not prophesied in thy name and thy name have cast out demons and in and thy name have cast out demons and in thy name done many wonderful works the fact of the matter is that in christ's name christ's name many works have been done that are far many works have been done that are far from wonderful from wonderful many things have been done and said that many things have been done and said that in themselves were despicable and yet in themselves were despicable and yet the name of christ is drawn into the the name of christ is drawn into the discussion as a justification for some discussion as a justification for some of that conduct in some of those actions of that conduct in some of those actions and thoughts and statements and thoughts and statements lord lord have we not done many lord lord have we not done many wonderful things in your name perhaps four of the most four of the most terrible words that we could imagine terrible words that we could imagine then while i say unto them in the english language never brother harry weaker said this grim word declares the ghastly truth declares the ghastly truth that many a life that seemed to have that many a life that seemed to have been lit up by a blaze of light from been lit up by a blaze of light from heaven heaven has in fact has in fact never emerged never emerged from the smoke and the fire from the smoke and the fire and the destruction of impending i never knew you depart from me depart from me all of you that work iniquity therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine sayings of mine notice the exact contrast to verse 21 notice the exact contrast to verse 21 those who said lord lord jesus said i never knew you only those who do the will of the father only those who do the will of the father which is in heaven by their fruits by their deeds you will know them by their deeds you will know them whether or not they are disciples of whether or not they are disciples of jesus jesus says in john chapter 13 i believe it is that by this shall all men know it is that by this shall all men know that you are my followers if you have that you are my followers if you have love for one another and of course love is more than an emotion more than a sentiment it must be emotion more than a sentiment it must be expressed by actions so jesus is really saying it seems to me by this you will know by this you will know who are my disciples and who are not who are my disciples and who are not those who show their love for me their those who show their love for me their love for god and their love for their love for god and their love for their brethren by their actions brethren by their actions there is no other way there is no other way expressions of interest expressions of good thoughts good thoughts expressions of one's own righteousness expressions of one's own righteousness or no consequence whatsoever or no consequence whatsoever many will say lord lord many will say lord lord to whom jesus will say to whom jesus will say i never knew you therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them sayings of mine and doeth them i will liken him unto a wise man which i will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock built his house upon a rock and the rain descended and the floods and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock founded upon a rock what is the rock what is the rock the rock is christ the rock is christ the rock is the sayings of christ the rock is the sayings of christ the rock is a life the rock is a life based upon based upon the sayings of christ the sayings of christ that that is the only foundation is the only foundation and everyone that heareth these sayings and everyone that heareth these sayings of mine of mine and doeth them not and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand the which built his house upon the sand the shifting sands of the seaside shifting sands of the seaside or the desert that can hold no or the desert that can hold no foundation that shift with the winds and foundation that shift with the winds and with the rains and with the water and with the rains and with the water and the house falls and collapses the house falls and collapses and great was the fall of it notice that jesus refers to everything that he has said previously that he has said previously even when he was quoting from the law even when he was quoting from the law itself as these sayings of mine itself as these sayings of mine we emphasize what we emphasized at the we emphasize what we emphasized at the very beginning that when jesus went up very beginning that when jesus went up in the mountain to sit down and the in the mountain to sit down and the people were gathered to him that when he people were gathered to him that when he spoke it was as though he was speaking spoke it was as though he was speaking with the power and the authority of god with the power and the authority of god he was the word of god made flesh and he was the word of god made flesh and now without the least apology he says now without the least apology he says the one who hears the sayings of mine the one who hears the sayings of mine and does them he will have built his house upon a rock and it will stand forever my sayings he and it will stand forever my sayings he said jesus assumes all power and all authority for himself he speaks as authority for himself he speaks as though it were the voice of god he speaks in fact is verse 29 tells us as one having authority and not as the as one having authority and not as the scribes scribes the scribes were always interested and the scribes were always interested and we know this from from secular history we know this from from secular history they were always interested in looking they were always interested in looking at the opinions of others and comparing at the opinions of others and comparing what rabbi what rabbi samuel said with what rabbi jonah said samuel said with what rabbi jonah said with what rabbi ezekiel said and putting with what rabbi ezekiel said and putting them all together in a commentary and them all together in a commentary and then adding their own thoughts on top of then adding their own thoughts on top of it and they couldn't begin to tell it and they couldn't begin to tell anyone what the law said because they anyone what the law said because they had to consult all the other authorities had to consult all the other authorities jesus was completely different when he jesus was completely different when he spoke the word came from god and there spoke the word came from god and there was no question about it to jesus's mind was no question about it to jesus's mind or to the to those who listened to his or to the to those who listened to his words words he spoke as one that had authority and he spoke as one that had authority and not as the scribes so we see here the contrasting ends of the two different ways the one way of the two different ways the one way which leads to destruction which leads to destruction because it's based upon hearing the because it's based upon hearing the words of god the words of christ words of god the words of christ and not doing them and not doing them saying lord lord saying lord lord we've known you you know us don't you we've known you you know us don't you and he says and he says i never knew you i never knew you and the other way the narrow way the and the other way the narrow way the straight way that leads to life and it straight way that leads to life and it consists in building one's house upon consists in building one's house upon the rock of the sayings of jesus the rock of the sayings of jesus and attempting as best we are able to and attempting as best we are able to keep those sayings keep those sayings to keep those teachings in every part in to keep those teachings in every part in every facet of our lives every facet of our lives in his concluding remarks here jesus in his concluding remarks here jesus calls to our mind the certainty of calls to our mind the certainty of approaching judgment approaching judgment and he says that there is only one hope and he says that there is only one hope the rock upon which we should build remember the message that jesus first preached the message that jesus first preached when he came to the nation of israel we when he came to the nation of israel we read it back in chapter four in verse 17 read it back in chapter four in verse 17 jesus began to preach and he said unto jesus began to preach and he said unto them repent for the kingdom of heaven is them repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand at hand all the doctrine all the doctrine all the first principles of the world all the first principles of the world believe perfectly laid out with proofs believe perfectly laid out with proofs end upon end end upon end will never bring us into the kingdom of will never bring us into the kingdom of god unless we learn to live by the god unless we learn to live by the teachings of christ and so the most teachings of christ and so the most fundamental of all the first principles fundamental of all the first principles is this is this repent repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand for the kingdom of heaven is at hand repent change your life be born again repent change your life be born again and recognize that and recognize that simply passing through the waters of simply passing through the waters of baptism is not in itself sufficient to baptism is not in itself sufficient to bring about repentance but repentance is bring about repentance but repentance is a change of mind and a change of life a change of mind and a change of life that never stops trying to improve that that never stops trying to improve that never stops seeking first never stops seeking first for the kingdom of god for god's for the kingdom of god for god's kingship over us in our lives kingship over us in our lives our lives and serving god should be a our lives and serving god should be a continual lie continual lie of repentance of repentance of change of growth and development and of change of growth and development and ever striving upward for the perfection ever striving upward for the perfection that jesus spoke of when he said be ye that jesus spoke of when he said be ye perfect perfect even as your father which is in heaven even as your father which is in heaven is perfect it's in a sense a very frightening thing to speak that way and to consider to speak that way and to consider the ramifications of it the ramifications of it and yet it shouldn't be because and yet it shouldn't be because the same god who told us that we should the same god who told us that we should be perfect be perfect told us also through christ that we told us also through christ that we could be forgiven could be forgiven and so the strength doesn't come from us and so the strength doesn't come from us if it rested upon us then we should give if it rested upon us then we should give up now up now but the one thing that we can give to but the one thing that we can give to god god [Music] [Music] is our devotion and our dedication is our devotion and our dedication and our continuous effort to serve him and our continuous effort to serve him we may fail time after time after time but if we truly believe in god and what he said we'll stand up again and what he said we'll stand up again and we'll continue on the path and we'll continue on the path and will try to help others along that and will try to help others along that path as well path as well [Music] [Music] let me conclude by reading a few verses let me conclude by reading a few verses from deuteronomy chapter 30 because it seems to me that the teachings of the law of moses the teachings of the law of moses are not that much different than the are not that much different than the teachings of christ and the same teachings of christ and the same principles apply in both cases principles apply in both cases deuteronomy chapter 30 beginning with verse 11 think of these words as though they were think of these words as though they were spoken by jesus himself spoken by jesus himself for this commandment which i command for this commandment which i command thee this day thee this day it is not hidden from thee neither is it it is not hidden from thee neither is it far off far off it is not in heaven that thou should say it is not in heaven that thou should say who shall go up for us to heaven and who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it do it neither is it beyond the sea that thou neither is it beyond the sea that thou should say who shall go over the sea for should say who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it it and do it but the word is very nigh unto thee in but the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it see i have set before thee this day life and good and good and death and death and evil and evil the two ways the two ways the two kinds of righteousness the two kinds of righteousness in that i command thee this day to love in that i command thee this day to love the lord thy god the lord thy god to walk in his ways to keep his to walk in his ways to keep his commandments and his statutes and his commandments and his statutes and his judgments that thou mayest live and judgments that thou mayest live and multiply and the lord thy god shall multiply and the lord thy god shall bless thee in the land whether thou bless thee in the land whether thou goest to possess it goest to possess it but if thy heart turn away but if thy heart turn away so that thou wilt not hear so that thou wilt not hear but shalt be drawn away and worship but shalt be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them other gods and serve them you cannot serve god and you cannot serve god and mammon mammon i denounce unto you this day that ye i denounce unto you this day that ye shall surely perish shall surely perish i never knew you i never knew you and that ye shall not prolong your days and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land whether thou passest over upon the land whether thou passest over jordan to go to possess it jordan to go to possess it i call heaven and earth to record this i call heaven and earth to record this day against you day against you that i have set before you life and that i have set before you life and death death blessing and cursing blessing and cursing then almost as a father would speak then almost as a father would speak beseechingly to a child beseechingly to a child therefore therefore choose choose life choose life life choose life that both thou that both thou and thy seed may live and thy seed may live the thou mayest love the lord thy god the thou mayest love the lord thy god that thou mayest obey his voice that that thou mayest obey his voice that thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thy life thy life and the length of thy days and the length of thy days that thou mayest dwell in the land which that thou mayest dwell in the land which the lord swear unto thy fathers the lord swear unto thy fathers to abraham to isaac and to jacob to abraham to isaac and to jacob to give them to give them may that land and that promise may that land and that promise be given to us be given to us as well

Location:WCF (1985)

Topic:Sermon on the Mount

Title:Unknown

Speaker:Booker, George

Download:Tape 22B.mp3

Source: archive.moorestownchristadelphians.org |

Transcript

or the constitution we might say that the king is presenting to the nation the king is presenting to the nation the law that is to be enforced in the law that is to be enforced in christ's kingdom christ's kingdom and therefore the law that needs to be and therefore the law that needs to be enforced with us even today enforced with us even today and and if you've noticed uh if you've noticed uh if you've been here during the earlier if you've been here during the earlier classes we've continually talked about classes we've continually talked about the two different ways the two different ways or the two different kinds of or the two different kinds of righteousness and that same kind of righteousness and that same kind of theme homes even into chapter 7 in those theme homes even into chapter 7 in those very familiar verses as jesus draws his very familiar verses as jesus draws his teaching to a close when he says in teaching to a close when he says in verses 13 and 14 that there is one way verses 13 and 14 that there is one way the wide way the broad way that leads to the wide way the broad way that leads to destruction destruction and there is the other way a narrow way and there is the other way a narrow way a straight a straight way way that leads to life that leads to life so he still is talking about the two so he still is talking about the two different ways different ways just as he talked earlier about the two just as he talked earlier about the two different kinds of righteousness we'll look at some of the earlier verses and then we'll work up to what i think and then we'll work up to what i think is something of a climax in verses 13 is something of a climax in verses 13 and 14 on to the end of the chapter and 14 on to the end of the chapter beginning with verse one then in fact beginning with verse one then in fact the first five verses or so compose one the first five verses or so compose one section section judge not judge not jesus says that he be not judged jesus says that he be not judged the word that is translated judge here the word that is translated judge here is a word that is a word that more literally we might translate more literally we might translate condemn condemn do not condemn others do not condemn others lest you will be condemned lest you will be condemned and by making it a bit stronger there and by making it a bit stronger there than the simple word judge we emphasize than the simple word judge we emphasize that there are times in fact when we that there are times in fact when we need to discern need to discern amongst amongst individuals and their actions and their individuals and their actions and their speech speech even as jesus himself says in other even as jesus himself says in other places for example verse 16 of chapter 7 places for example verse 16 of chapter 7 when he says verse 15 and 16 beware of when he says verse 15 and 16 beware of false prophets and then he says this is false prophets and then he says this is how you will know the false prophets you how you will know the false prophets you will know them by their fruits or by will know them by their fruits or by their works or by what they do so there their works or by what they do so there is a rather limited sense in which it is is a rather limited sense in which it is permissible and it isn't it is even permissible and it isn't it is even required of us we might say to judge required of us we might say to judge to discern to understand and make to discern to understand and make distinctions between different teachings distinctions between different teachings and different individuals and different individuals jesus does say however we should not jesus does say however we should not condemn condemn those who condemn others will find those who condemn others will find themselves condemned by god for with themselves condemned by god for with what judgment or with what condemnation what judgment or with what condemnation you condemn you condemn you shall be condemned you shall be condemned by the great judge by the great judge and with what measure you meet or you and with what measure you meet or you measure out to others so you will measure out to others so you will receive the same measure it will be receive the same measure it will be measured to you again measured to you again and jesus then in verses three and four and jesus then in verses three and four and five goes on in a sort of a brief and five goes on in a sort of a brief parable to explain exactly what he means parable to explain exactly what he means when he says judge not or condemn not when he says judge not or condemn not why beholdest thou why beholdest thou he asks he asks the mote that is in thy brother's eye a the mote that is in thy brother's eye a moat a very small speck moat a very small speck a little a little sliver of wood or dust or whatever why sliver of wood or dust or whatever why do you consider the little tiny moat do you consider the little tiny moat that is in your brother's eye but you that is in your brother's eye but you haven't even considered the beam the haven't even considered the beam the whole log of wood the whole piece of whole log of wood the whole piece of wood that is in your own eye and it's an wood that is in your own eye and it's an outlandish sort of comparison because outlandish sort of comparison because nobody could imagine having an entire nobody could imagine having an entire chunk of wood or beam of wood in one's chunk of wood or beam of wood in one's eye and yet jesus overstates or eye and yet jesus overstates or exaggerates in this way to make the exaggerates in this way to make the point point how will thou say to thy brother let me how will thou say to thy brother let me pull out the moat out of thine eye and pull out the moat out of thine eye and behold a beam is in your own eye you behold a beam is in your own eye you couldn't begin to see well enough to couldn't begin to see well enough to help your brother take care of his help your brother take care of his relatively minor problem relatively minor problem and so in effect jesus is saying before and so in effect jesus is saying before you go about to judge or to condemn you go about to judge or to condemn others others or even for that matter to try to help or even for that matter to try to help them especially and you think you have them especially and you think you have the best of motives the first thing you the best of motives the first thing you need to do is be concerned with your own need to do is be concerned with your own character your own actions character your own actions thou hypocrite he says first cast out thou hypocrite he says first cast out the beam out of thine own eye and then the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye mote out of thy brother's eye i think i think we have to understand that to take we have to understand that to take the words of jesus the words of jesus in a perfectly literal fashion here in a perfectly literal fashion here uh uh recognizing that we all have false and recognizing that we all have false and we're never quite shed of all of our we're never quite shed of all of our faults if we take it quite literally faults if we take it quite literally then we have to assume that there is then we have to assume that there is never the possibility of any of us never the possibility of any of us offering help or correction to any of offering help or correction to any of our brothers and we know that's not true our brothers and we know that's not true because we should be interested in because we should be interested in helping one another but i think allowing helping one another but i think allowing for the sort of exaggerated language for the sort of exaggerated language that jesus uses it's still quite plain that jesus uses it's still quite plain that what he's saying is the primary that what he's saying is the primary thing you need to do is be concerned thing you need to do is be concerned with your own conduct with your own conduct the quality and the character of your the quality and the character of your own life and try to get that in the best own life and try to get that in the best shape that you possibly can and then shape that you possibly can and then maybe somewhere along the line after you maybe somewhere along the line after you have done a considerable amount of have done a considerable amount of self-judging or self-condemnation self-judging or self-condemnation to remove and to arrange your own life to remove and to arrange your own life as you think it should be lived as you think it should be lived under christ then and only then under christ then and only then should you be in a position to go about should you be in a position to go about judging others or even positively trying judging others or even positively trying to help others so to help others so allowing as i said for this sort of allowing as i said for this sort of exaggeration jesus plainly puts the exaggeration jesus plainly puts the emphasis 99 point emphasis 99 point 99 100 99 100 emphasis upon judging ourselves rather emphasis upon judging ourselves rather than having anything to do in regard to than having anything to do in regard to judging or criticizing or correcting our judging or criticizing or correcting our brethren a very strong very over brethren a very strong very over balanced sort of emphasis that jesus balanced sort of emphasis that jesus uses of course in saying this in the first few verses here in chapter 7 jesus is few verses here in chapter 7 jesus is only repeating some of the same only repeating some of the same principles that he has been mentioning principles that he has been mentioning all through this teaching of his going all through this teaching of his going back for example to chapter 5 and verse back for example to chapter 5 and verse 28 we might turn it up since we're in 28 we might turn it up since we're in the same general vicinity the same general vicinity remember jesus had said in contrasting remember jesus had said in contrasting the two different kinds of righteousness the two different kinds of righteousness verse 28 of chapter five but i say unto verse 28 of chapter five but i say unto you that whosoever looks on a woman to you that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her have committed adultery lust after her have committed adultery with her already in his heart he lays with her already in his heart he lays down a very plain principle but a down a very plain principle but a principle which of necessity cannot be principle which of necessity cannot be applied by one individual judging the applied by one individual judging the motives or the intentions of another motives or the intentions of another individual it can only be applied by individual it can only be applied by each individual looking at himself each individual looking at himself looking into his own heart into his own looking into his own heart into his own intentions and motives it's the only way intentions and motives it's the only way in which you can be judged in fact we in which you can be judged in fact we might say there are only two people that might say there are only two people that can judge that kind of a sin one is the can judge that kind of a sin one is the person who might be committing it and person who might be committing it and the other is christ himself the other is christ himself christ has said i will judge in a sense christ has said i will judge in a sense jesus has appropriated now the judgment jesus has appropriated now the judgment that god said belonged to him in the that god said belonged to him in the first place first place the judgment that god had the power and the judgment that god had the power and the authority that god had has now been the authority that god had has now been conferred upon the son all power has conferred upon the son all power has been passed to the son and he can judge been passed to the son and he can judge in the same way that god can judge but in the same way that god can judge but no one else no one else is in that no one else no one else is in that category and also uh we realized that category and also uh we realized that this is the same principle basically this is the same principle basically that was referred to in chapter 6 that was referred to in chapter 6 and verse 4 and verse 4 and verse 6 and verse 18 of that chapter and verse 6 and verse 18 of that chapter we're in that threefold refrain jesus we're in that threefold refrain jesus says those who do things so as to be says those who do things so as to be seen of others seen of others will have their reward you should do the will have their reward you should do the righteous things that are commanded of righteous things that are commanded of you in private in secret so that the you in private in secret so that the father who sees in secret will reward father who sees in secret will reward you openly because we're not doing you openly because we're not doing anything anything or we're not refraining from doing or we're not refraining from doing anything either for that matter to anything either for that matter to please men please men we're doing it only to please god we're doing it only to please god god can judge god can judge both the outward actions and the motives both the outward actions and the motives behind those actions god is the only one behind those actions god is the only one who can of course with christ being the who can of course with christ being the one who has received that authority and one who has received that authority and that power from god they can judge the that power from god they can judge the motives of the individual and no one motives of the individual and no one else can else can so with all that in mind it seems quite so with all that in mind it seems quite reasonable that jesus then comes to the reasonable that jesus then comes to the point of emphasizing again that we point of emphasizing again that we should not judge or condemn our brother should not judge or condemn our brother and if we do if there is is the and if we do if there is is the occasional time when we feel compelled occasional time when we feel compelled to help someone by making a suggestion to help someone by making a suggestion then we should do it in a spirit of then we should do it in a spirit of meekness not from a position of meekness not from a position of righteousness way above them looking righteousness way above them looking down our noses at them but rather in a down our noses at them but rather in a position of helping out of love position of helping out of love recognizing at the same time that we recognizing at the same time that we have weaknesses of our own and if truly have weaknesses of our own and if truly we do that then we will be perhaps in we do that then we will be perhaps in the best position if there is a good the best position if there is a good position to go about offering some kind position to go about offering some kind of constructive criticism to others but of constructive criticism to others but if we do it in the sense of we know if we do it in the sense of we know everything we're righteous and you're everything we're righteous and you're not then we can't hope to succeed we not then we can't hope to succeed we might be righteous by comparison with might be righteous by comparison with the other person but we're not supposed the other person but we're not supposed to compare ourselves with one another to compare ourselves with one another we're supposed to compare ourselves with we're supposed to compare ourselves with christ recognize that we're all failures christ recognize that we're all failures we're all sinners and only from that we're all sinners and only from that kind of beginning or that kind of source kind of beginning or that kind of source can we ever hope to help our brother paul picks up this same point and he speaks of it quite effectively speaks of it quite effectively in romans chapter 14. verse 4 where he says that if we compare where he says that if we compare ourselves with ourselves ourselves with ourselves in other words if we find ourselves in other words if we find ourselves judging or condemning our brother judging or condemning our brother that this is a perfectly pointless that this is a perfectly pointless exercise exercise it's of no benefit to the person who is it's of no benefit to the person who is being judged being judged and it's of no benefit to us who are and it's of no benefit to us who are doing the judging doing the judging for paul says in romans 14 for paul says in romans 14 and verse 4 and verse 4 who do you think you are to judge who do you think you are to judge another man's servant i'm paraphrasing another man's servant i'm paraphrasing obviously obviously to his own master he stand with or to his own master he stand with or follow and he says it's just as follow and he says it's just as unreasonable unreasonable unreasonable to go about judging your unreasonable to go about judging your brother as it would be brother as it would be to go into another business to go into another business establishment and start telling the establishment and start telling the employees how they should be serving employees how they should be serving their master how they should be serving their master how they should be serving their boss their boss is going to tell their boss their boss is going to tell them how to serve him and if they're not them how to serve him and if they're not serving him correctly then he'll see serving him correctly then he'll see about what discipline might be necessary about what discipline might be necessary who art thou that judgeth another man's who art thou that judgeth another man's servant to his own master he standeth or servant to his own master he standeth or follow follow he shall be holding up for god is able he shall be holding up for god is able to make him stand to make him stand and and very interesting there isn't it very interesting there isn't it paul says paul says he might not even be doing a good job he he might not even be doing a good job he might be falling down in his service to might be falling down in his service to his master but his master is the one who his master but his master is the one who can forgive him and lift him up and make can forgive him and lift him up and make him as though he had not committed that him as though he had not committed that sin or he had not failed you can't do sin or he had not failed you can't do that so leave him to his master let his that so leave him to his master let his master be the judge master be the judge and then again in verse 10 of the same and then again in verse 10 of the same chapter chapter paul says why dost thou judge thy paul says why dost thou judge thy brother or why dost thou set at naught brother or why dost thou set at naught thy brother in other words judge your thy brother in other words judge your brother in the sense of making him feel brother in the sense of making him feel inferior or making yourself feel inferior or making yourself feel superior to your brother why do you superior to your brother why do you attempt to set him at not or make him to attempt to set him at not or make him to feel little in your sight feel little in your sight by judging or criticizing by judging or criticizing for we shall all stand before the for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of christ and you see it's judgment seat of christ and you see it's pointless to judge one another because a pointless to judge one another because a time is coming when we will all stand time is coming when we will all stand before the judgment seat of christ and before the judgment seat of christ and we will be judged on the basis of what we will be judged on the basis of what we have done individually by the only we have done individually by the only one christ himself who truly can judge one christ himself who truly can judge so you see it's all anticipation anyway so you see it's all anticipation anyway it's not going to do us any good except it's not going to do us any good except perhaps it's going to make us feel perhaps it's going to make us feel better if we think we are better than better if we think we are better than someone else but it's a false or it's a someone else but it's a false or it's a false or illusory delusional type false or illusory delusional type feeling we might make ourselves feel feeling we might make ourselves feel better but we're not better in the least better but we're not better in the least by looking down at someone else and by looking down at someone else and we'll all stand before christ at any we'll all stand before christ at any rate so what paul is saying here is if rate so what paul is saying here is if you go about judging and passing you go about judging and passing judgment upon others you're just judgment upon others you're just anticipating the judgment seat of christ anticipating the judgment seat of christ or it's all going to be set right anyway or it's all going to be set right anyway you're like a lower court judge who you're like a lower court judge who can't ever make a pronouncement because can't ever make a pronouncement because it's going to be overturned by the it's going to be overturned by the supreme court that's sitting above him supreme court that's sitting above him so why bother so why bother your decisions hold no weight whatsoever your decisions hold no weight whatsoever they're going to be overturned by christ they're going to be overturned by christ anyway anyway we will all stand before the judgment we will all stand before the judgment seat of christ we mentioned one more time as we mentioned in our consideration of mentioned in our consideration of chapter 6 that if we go about judging chapter 6 that if we go about judging our brother our brother then then this kind of judgment may stand in the this kind of judgment may stand in the way of ourselves being forgiven by god way of ourselves being forgiven by god even as we pray in the lord's prayer even as we pray in the lord's prayer forgive us our debts even as we forgive forgive us our debts even as we forgive our debtors for if we forgive men their our debtors for if we forgive men their trespasses your heavenly father will trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you forgive not also forgive you but if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses and we father forgive your trespasses and we read these very simple and read these very simple and straightforward sorts of exhortations straightforward sorts of exhortations and we feel compelled to ask how long and we feel compelled to ask how long will it be will it be how long will it be before how long will it be before christadelphians ever learn what seems christadelphians ever learn what seems to be such an obvious and simple lesson to be such an obvious and simple lesson how long will it be how long will it be till we cease running around continually till we cease running around continually passing judgment on one another for some passing judgment on one another for some of the most silly details of conduct and of the most silly details of conduct and and behavior and beliefs and behavior and beliefs that that that are simply foolish and there's that are simply foolish and there's nothing else that can be said nothing else that can be said it is a lesson that is as plain as any it is a lesson that is as plain as any lesson in scripture lesson in scripture and yet and yet for all of our knowledge of the first for all of our knowledge of the first principles and our understanding our principles and our understanding our true understanding of the gospel i think true understanding of the gospel i think we come very short in understanding this we come very short in understanding this very simple principle very simple principle and we do it at our own risk and we do it at our own risk because when we start fooling around because when we start fooling around with with judging our brethren in ways that we are judging our brethren in ways that we are not clearly commanded to do not clearly commanded to do we are tampering with the very mechanism we are tampering with the very mechanism by which we ourselves can be forgiven by which we ourselves can be forgiven none of us can stand as righteous before none of us can stand as righteous before christ based on our own conduct are our christ based on our own conduct are our own beliefs own beliefs and if we get so caught up in and if we get so caught up in considering the conduct and the belief considering the conduct and the belief of others of others that we're willing in one sense or that we're willing in one sense or another to ask judgment upon them another to ask judgment upon them then we are plainly putting ourselves on then we are plainly putting ourselves on the wrong side we're putting ourselves the wrong side we're putting ourselves on the side where one day we might find on the side where one day we might find that there is no mercy forth coming for that there is no mercy forth coming for us us because of the attitude that we've shown because of the attitude that we've shown to others in this context and in this understanding we think of the parable understanding we think of the parable that jesus told in luke chapter 18 and that jesus told in luke chapter 18 and i'll just read it you didn't bother i'll just read it you didn't bother turning it up turning it up luke 18 verses 11 and 12. verses 9 and 10 and 11 and 12. and he spake this parable unto certain which spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others righteous and despised others the parable went like this the parable went like this two men two men went up into the temple to pray the one went up into the temple to pray the one pharisee and the other republican the pharisee and the other republican the one the most righteous of men the one the most righteous of men the pharisees with their fine robes with pharisees with their fine robes with their precise conduct with their their precise conduct with their consideration of every little detail of consideration of every little detail of the law trying to get it right the law trying to get it right and the publicans the tax collectors the and the publicans the tax collectors the centers centers the irs agents the irs agents the the government flunkies the the government flunkies the ones who were despised by any the ones who were despised by any right-thinking jew and looked down upon right-thinking jew and looked down upon and they turned the other way and passed and they turned the other way and passed by them in the street without speaking by them in the street without speaking the pharisee and the publican went up to the pharisee and the publican went up to pray a study in absolute contrast pray a study in absolute contrast between the two the pharisees stood and prayed thus with himself and prayed thus with himself the irony of that the irony of that the pharisees stood the pharisees stood probably looking up to heaven in the probably looking up to heaven in the traditional pose of the jew as he prayed traditional pose of the jew as he prayed to god he stood to god he stood probably keeping in mind the things probably keeping in mind the things jesus said earlier about the pharisees jesus said earlier about the pharisees who loved to be seen of men who loved to be seen of men to be righteous he probably stood in a to be righteous he probably stood in a place where others could hear not just place where others could hear not just the publican but some of his own cohorts the publican but some of his own cohorts and friends he stood and he prayed a and friends he stood and he prayed a lovely prayer in his lovely robes lovely prayer in his lovely robes feeling very righteous and very proud of feeling very righteous and very proud of himself and jesus said himself and jesus said he prayed thus he prayed thus with himself with himself apparently that prayer never got beyond apparently that prayer never got beyond the ceiling of the room where he stood the ceiling of the room where he stood he prayed with himself god he said i thank thee that i am not as other men are extortioners unjust as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers adulterers or even as this or even as this this this publican i fast twice in the week i give tithes of all that i possess of all that i possess i am just i am just a downright wonderful person a downright wonderful person and surely everybody around me sees it and surely everybody around me sees it and of course you see it too and the publican standing a far off removed afraid perhaps even to come close and afraid perhaps even to come close and touch robes or garments with the touch robes or garments with the pharisee knowing pharisee knowing that he was a sinner that he was a sinner would not so much as lift up his eyes would not so much as lift up his eyes into heaven into heaven but cast his head down but cast his head down bowed down before god and smote upon his bowed down before god and smote upon his breast breast saying saying god be merciful to me god be merciful to me a sinner a sinner i tell you jesus said this man went down i tell you jesus said this man went down to his house justified rather than the to his house justified rather than the other for everyone that exalted himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted brother roberts said one time if men were more busy judging themselves which were more busy judging themselves which they are commanded to do they are commanded to do they would have much less opportunity to they would have much less opportunity to judge one another which they are judge one another which they are forbidden to do truly we as christadelphians need to learn that lesson learn that lesson and we need to teach that lesson to and we need to teach that lesson to others in matthew 7 and verse 6 we now come to a little and verse 6 we now come to a little short verse short verse that almost appears that almost appears to contradict much of what we have just to contradict much of what we have just said said in verse 6 jesus says give not that which is holy unto the give not that which is holy unto the dogs dogs neither cast in your pearls before swine neither cast in your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you brother sergeant in his book commenting on this verse it says following up on this verse it says following up keeping in mind what we just said in the keeping in mind what we just said in the first five verses first five verses he says there is one sense in which you he says there is one sense in which you should judge should judge the truth we hold and the salvation it the truth we hold and the salvation it offers are god's gifts to be handled offers are god's gifts to be handled with reverence for the giver with reverence for the giver this he said is one of the most this he said is one of the most difficult discriminations or judgments difficult discriminations or judgments that we're called on to make that we're called on to make and apparently and apparently we should understand this verse in the we should understand this verse in the sense of our relationship with those who sense of our relationship with those who are outside with those who are potential are outside with those who are potential candidates to receive the truth and candidates to receive the truth and believe it the gospel and be baptized believe it the gospel and be baptized but but jesus is saying jesus is saying there is in fact a sense in which you there is in fact a sense in which you should judge in which you should should judge in which you should discriminate discriminate cast not your pearls before swine it seems to me and this is admittedly one of the most difficult verses one of the most difficult verses to understand and to try to explain to to understand and to try to explain to others but it seems to me that what others but it seems to me that what jesus is saying is this jesus is saying is this if we're going to go about presenting if we're going to go about presenting what we believe to others we have to what we believe to others we have to exercise some kind of discretion in the exercise some kind of discretion in the way in which we do it way in which we do it uh i'm sure this can be carried uh i'm sure this can be carried overboard overboard uh to the point where we're never quite uh to the point where we're never quite sure to whom we should speak and so we sure to whom we should speak and so we keep quiet because it's the easiest keep quiet because it's the easiest thing to do thing to do but i think that he's saying we have to be careful in what way careful in what way we go about introducing the truth to we go about introducing the truth to others somehow others somehow trying to exercise discrimination and trying to exercise discrimination and judgment as to how and when they might judgment as to how and when they might be approached and there may even be be approached and there may even be occasions when it would be improper to occasions when it would be improper to speak of the things that we believe to speak of the things that we believe to others perhaps he's saying something like this that we we can't drag people into the that we we can't drag people into the truth truth against their wishes against their wishes we can only present the truth to them we can only present the truth to them and let the truth or let god himself and let the truth or let god himself draw them by the power of his teaching perhaps he's saying that and perhaps there's really a lot more in and perhaps there's really a lot more in the verse that is difficult to bring out the verse that is difficult to bring out but i would say but i would say that such a verse as this that such a verse as this can be very easily misused can be very easily misused it can be used as an excuse for our own it can be used as an excuse for our own cowardice cowardice if we're afraid to speak to someone we if we're afraid to speak to someone we say well perhaps they won't listen say well perhaps they won't listen anyway and you shouldn't cast your anyway and you shouldn't cast your pearls before swine that's judging i pearls before swine that's judging i believe in the wrong sense believe in the wrong sense but say perhaps but say perhaps and this is just off the top of my head and this is just off the top of my head say you find yourself in a situation say you find yourself in a situation uh uh maybe didn't choose to be in that maybe didn't choose to be in that situation where you're with a group of situation where you're with a group of people they're behaving in a rather uh people they're behaving in a rather uh rowdy and and or even immoral fashion rowdy and and or even immoral fashion uh drinking and etc etc not that every uh drinking and etc etc not that every bit of drinking is wrong you know i bit of drinking is wrong you know i don't think that but you're in a don't think that but you're in a situation where you'd really you don't situation where you'd really you don't feel comfortable at all and you find feel comfortable at all and you find people who are behaving in a blasphemous people who are behaving in a blasphemous sort of fashion sort of fashion that probably would not be a good place that probably would not be a good place and a good time to try to interest and a good time to try to interest people in what you believe for one thing people in what you believe for one thing your credibility might be questioned why your credibility might be questioned why are you here with us why are you seeming are you here with us why are you seeming to condone the things that we're doing to condone the things that we're doing and yet you say that you're standing for and yet you say that you're standing for something else something else now you know there may be occasions now you know there may be occasions there may be times when with all honesty there may be times when with all honesty and forthrightness we can go into a and forthrightness we can go into a situation situation and we can call people out of it i mean and we can call people out of it i mean jesus did that he jesus did that he uh he went into the publicans house when uh he went into the publicans house when others were looking down upon him where others were looking down upon him where there was eating and drinking perhaps to there was eating and drinking perhaps to excess and he was able to reach them and excess and he was able to reach them and bring them out but there may be other bring them out but there may be other occasions when that would be very occasions when that would be very difficult if not impossible and we might difficult if not impossible and we might find ourselves being mocked at or made find ourselves being mocked at or made fun of or we might find ourselves not fun of or we might find ourselves not being able being able to stand up for what we believe because to stand up for what we believe because of the delicate the difficult situation of the delicate the difficult situation that we find ourselves in and again that we find ourselves in and again we're talking rather vaguely but it's we're talking rather vaguely but it's hard for me at least to find the precise hard for me at least to find the precise application for this verse and again application for this verse and again i'll go back to what i said that we i'll go back to what i said that we shouldn't use such a verse as this in shouldn't use such a verse as this in such a broad fashion that somehow it such a broad fashion that somehow it becomes an excuse or a reason why we becomes an excuse or a reason why we should never present the truth to others should never present the truth to others that somehow it becomes a quote for our that somehow it becomes a quote for our cowardice or our laziness or a snobbery cowardice or our laziness or a snobbery perhaps that looks at a person and says perhaps that looks at a person and says that person is just not quite the right that person is just not quite the right caliber and so i shouldn't be bothered caliber and so i shouldn't be bothered with them cast not your pearls before with them cast not your pearls before swine and so forth swine and so forth jesus went to the very poorest of jesus went to the very poorest of society he went to the people who were society he went to the people who were outcasts and he presented the truth to outcasts and he presented the truth to them in the proper fashion but again as them in the proper fashion but again as i said there may be occasions when this i said there may be occasions when this very verse needs to be applied to a very verse needs to be applied to a particular situation verse seven actually verses 7 through 11 actually verses 7 through 11 make up a section jesus says ask and it shall be given you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you knock and it shall be opened unto you if you want an easy memory verse this is if you want an easy memory verse this is it it i'll tell you why i'll tell you why all you have to do all you have to do you can memorize the whole verse in five you can memorize the whole verse in five seconds flat all you have to do is seconds flat all you have to do is remember how to spell remember how to spell very simple word very simple word ask ask if you've got the first word of the if you've got the first word of the verse verse ask and it shall be given you ask and it shall be given you there's the a there's the a seek seek and you shall find and you shall find knock knock and the door shall be opened unto you and the door shall be opened unto you and you memorize the whole person and you memorize the whole person five seconds flat five seconds flat then you can remember where it is then you can remember where it is because it's the first book of the new because it's the first book of the new testament and that's easy everybody testament and that's easy everybody knows matthew knows matthew and it's chapter seven and verse seven and it's chapter seven and verse seven and everybody knows how significant the and everybody knows how significant the number seven is so you know close your number seven is so you know close your eyes in matthew 7 verse 7 ask and you eyes in matthew 7 verse 7 ask and you shall find seek [Music] asking it shall be given you seek and asking it shall be given you seek and you shall find knock in the door shall you shall find knock in the door shall be opened unto you be opened unto you practice it twice before you try that practice it twice before you try that you'll be better off james says and remember i mentioned once before and remember i mentioned once before that james is that james is presenting a commentary pretty much on presenting a commentary pretty much on the sermon on the mount james says the sermon on the mount james says chapter 1 and verse 5 if any one of you chapter 1 and verse 5 if any one of you lack wisdom lack wisdom let him ask of god that he will give it let him ask of god that he will give it so again he's applying this principle so again he's applying this principle that jesus gives here ask and you shall that jesus gives here ask and you shall find ask and shall be given you i did it find ask and shall be given you i did it again for everyone that asketh receiveth again for everyone that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened in other words jesus is saying god will give to you give to you everything that you need everything that you need and this goes along with the the prayer and this goes along with the the prayer that jesus prayed give us this day our that jesus prayed give us this day our daily bread he wasn't just talking about daily bread he wasn't just talking about physical things i think he was talking physical things i think he was talking about the spiritual needs that we have about the spiritual needs that we have too god will provide for you in that too god will provide for you in that regard you lack knowledge regard you lack knowledge god will give it to you i mean you won't god will give it to you i mean you won't give it to you on a silver platter where give it to you on a silver platter where you don't have to think for yourselves you don't have to think for yourselves but if you apply yourself to the but if you apply yourself to the scripture scripture and if you pray for god's help he will and if you pray for god's help he will give you knowledge from the scripture give you knowledge from the scripture and by the experiences of your life that and by the experiences of your life that you go through and you will know you you go through and you will know you will eventually learn how you should act will eventually learn how you should act there may be many false starts there may there may be many false starts there may be many wrong turns along the way but be many wrong turns along the way but god will give you what is necessary if god will give you what is necessary if you go to him so i think give us this you go to him so i think give us this day our daily bread is talking about day our daily bread is talking about spiritual needs as well as physical spiritual needs as well as physical needs and jesus returns to that theme needs and jesus returns to that theme here in verses 7 and 8. here in verses 7 and 8. and then he says in verses 9 and 10 and and then he says in verses 9 and 10 and 11 why is this so how do we know we can 11 why is this so how do we know we can trust in god because god is our father trust in god because god is our father what man he says is there of you whom if what man he says is there of you whom if his son asked bread will he give him a his son asked bread will he give him a stone if he asks a fish will he give him stone if he asks a fish will he give him a serpent if you then being evil a serpent if you then being evil if you then being something less than if you then being something less than righteous something less than perfect righteous something less than perfect know how to give good gifts unto your know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your father children how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him them that ask him so he's saying look at the analogy the so he's saying look at the analogy the parent for the child any reasonable parent for the child any reasonable parent will try to provide for his child parent will try to provide for his child whatever that child needs whatever that child needs and if you're able to do that weak as and if you're able to do that weak as you are with your own selfishness and you are with your own selfishness and your own your own difficulties in doing what is right then difficulties in doing what is right then surely you can recognize that your surely you can recognize that your father in heaven will give you all the father in heaven will give you all the things that you need things that you need he may not give you all the things you he may not give you all the things you want want but he'll give you all the things that but he'll give you all the things that you need you need just as we can always give our children just as we can always give our children all the things they want and even all the things they want and even sometimes we make a conscious choice not sometimes we make a conscious choice not to give them something they want for to give them something they want for their own good their own good so god will act in the same way and more so god will act in the same way and more perfectly toward us who are his children perfectly toward us who are his children giving us what we need not necessarily giving us what we need not necessarily everything we want everything we want but what we need to sustain us but what we need to sustain us physically and spiritually in our way physically and spiritually in our way toward the kingdom then in verse 12 jesus gives something of a summary verse jesus gives something of a summary verse it seems to me for a lot of what he said it seems to me for a lot of what he said in chapters five and six and seven in chapters five and six and seven therefore he says all things whatsoever therefore he says all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets what he's saying is this is the whole law law everything that i've been saying to you everything that i've been saying to you is comprehended in this rather simple is comprehended in this rather simple statement do unto others as you would statement do unto others as you would have them do unto you have them do unto you he puts it in a slightly different way he puts it in a slightly different way in matthew chapter 22 when he says in matthew chapter 22 when he says the two commandments the two great the two commandments the two great commandments are love the lord thy god commandments are love the lord thy god with all thy heart and all my soul my with all thy heart and all my soul my spirit my mind spirit my mind my strength and