Archive

Treasure in Heaven

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21 […]

The Privilege of the Child of God

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

A Pattern for Prayer

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

Being Real

When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Taken from Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18 Sometimes we put on a front. We do things to impress people or […]

Shunning Hypocrisy

Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18 I would venture to say that all of us, at one time or another, have been a hypocrite. Hypocrisy is seen in all walks of life, yet its most intolerable form is religious hypocrisy, especially among Christians. Jesus, having concluded His exposition of the law, now began to address a number of […]

Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:38–48 A popular bumper sticker reads, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” We think that “an eye for an eye” means, “Yeah, I get to pop you back because you popped me first.” The Pharisees taught this erroneous perspective, but the original intent of the law was to prevent an […]

Obedience from the Heart

Matthew 5:21–37 So often we’re content to substitute religion for vital fellowship with the Lord. We come to church, put money in the basket, say a prayer, and think, Everything’s okay; I did my religious duty. Jesus said, “No, that’s not how it works.” Jesus had just explained that our righteousness must exceed that of […]

A Better Righteousness

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 The Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ day were the custodians and interpreters of the law. The Pharisees, an elite group among them, spent their every waking moment trying […]

The Christian and the Law

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the […]

Let Your Light Shine

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15–16 Have you ever lit a lamp and then […]