1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,440 All right, let's go and get started. 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,000 Good morning. Welcome to New Lock Community 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,120 Church for anybody that's visiting. 4 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:14,200 My name is Jasper and I serve as associate pastor here. 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,960 I have the honor and the privilege of preaching today. 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,600 And I found out right before I started that this actually will 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,880 be the very first sermon that Ophiro ever hears. 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:31,600 And so I am very proud of that. So I get that privilege. 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,920 So I'm excited to preach today. If you have our Bibles, go ahead 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:40,840 and turn to Matthew chapter 5. So we have been in a series over 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,440 the last several weeks in the book of Matthew, and we started 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:50,160 weeks ago in Matthew chapter 5. And in Matthew 5 through 7, we 13 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:52,840 see the Sermon on the Mount. And so that's where we've been 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,520 camped out for a few weeks now when we started the Sermon on 15 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,600 the Mount of Jesus starts with the Beatitudes in verses one 16 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,880 through 11. And then shortly after the 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,880 Beatitudes, he says this in verses 17 through 20. 18 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,680 Do not think that I've come to abolish the law or prophets. 19 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,520 I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 20 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,480 For truly, I say to you, until heaven on earth pass away, not 21 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,400 an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,800 accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one 23 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,520 of the least of these commandments and teaches others 24 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,880 to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. 25 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:38,360 But whoever does them and teaches them will be called 26 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,920 great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your 27 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:46,360 righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, 28 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,040 you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,240 Now, when Kyle preached on this, when we first hear this 30 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,880 statement, the reaction is what? How can, how can we do this? 31 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,440 Who can do this? The scribes and the Pharisees 32 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,680 knew the law front to back. They lived that was their whole 33 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,360 life was studying the law and living by it and being as 34 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,840 perfect as they could. And yet we're supposed to be our 35 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,240 our righteousness is to exceed that. 36 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,440 How do we do this? Jesus goes on to explain how in 37 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:27,280 verses 21 through 48, this is where we began what is known as 38 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,240 the antithesis section of the Sermon on the Mount. 39 00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:34,680 So there are 6 statements that Jesus makes. 40 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,960 These are antithesis statements and each one begins with you 41 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,160 have heard it said, but I tell you and then he goes on. 42 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:49,160 Now, in these passages, Jesus is quoting Old Testament law, OK, 43 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,880 but he's not correcting the law. He's correcting 44 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,760 misinterpretations of the law. See, they had the law, they had 45 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,360 access to it. They knew it, but they were 46 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,960 misinterpreting it. They they had gotten it all 47 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,720 wrong. They were missing the point of 48 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,680 the law entirely. They thought that it was all 49 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,240 about external conformity to the law. 50 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,080 So for our righteousness to exceed theirs, to exceed the 51 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,240 scribes and the Pharisees, we need to rightly understand the 52 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,760 law which they had gotten wrong. Then we need to do it and teach 53 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,760 it as Jesus spoke. So through these statements, 54 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,560 these antithesis statements, Jesus isn't raising the bar for 55 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:35,480 external behavior. He's exposing the heart and 56 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,880 calling us to reflect on the very character of God, which he 57 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,680 perfectly exemplified for us. And that's what we've been 58 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,880 looking at over the last few weeks, how we can reflect the 59 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,800 character of God by obeying His law. 60 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,760 So today we're going to look at the last three of these 61 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,360 antithesis statements regarding common misconception about the 62 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:59,720 misconceptions about the Old Testament law. 63 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,880 Today we're going to look at oaths, retaliation, and loving 64 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,120 your enemies. And so we're going to start in 65 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,280 Matthew chapter 5, verse 33. If you have your Bibles, go 66 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,320 ahead and get there. And if you're able, would you 67 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:17,000 please stand as we read God's Word this morning, Matthew 68 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:23,280 chapter 5, starting at verse 33. Again, you have heard that it 69 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:26,640 was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but 70 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,080 shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. 71 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,640 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, 72 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,720 for it is the throne of God, or by earth, for it is His 73 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,120 footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great 74 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,720 King. And do not take an oath by your 75 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,840 head, for which you cannot make one hair white or black. 76 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,760 Let what you say be simply yes or no. 77 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,000 Anything more than this comes from evil. 78 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,040 You have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a tooth 79 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,120 for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist 80 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,200 the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the 81 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,680 right cheek, turn to him the other also. 82 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:08,520 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have 83 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,800 your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go 84 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,840 one mile, go with him 2 miles. Give to the one who begs from 85 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:18,960 you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 86 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,560 You have heard that it was said you shall love your neighbor and 87 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,720 hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your 88 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:29,720 enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may 89 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,520 become sons of your Father who is in heaven. 90 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,600 For he makes his Son rise on the evil and on the good, and sends 91 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,680 rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love 92 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,120 you, what reward do you have? Do not even tax collectors do 93 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,320 the same? And if you greet only your 94 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,680 brothers, what more are you doing than others? 95 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,800 Do not even the Gentiles do the same. 96 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,240 You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is 97 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,680 perfect. This is the word of the Lord. 98 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:01,760 Speak to God. Let's pray. 99 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,240 Heavenly Father, we have heard from Your word. 100 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,800 We pray now that you help us to rightly understand it. 101 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,560 Please illuminate our minds and soften our hearts to receive it, 102 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,200 and help us apply these teachings of Your Son Jesus 103 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,480 Christ and live them out in obedience and faith, empowered 104 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,880 by Your Spirit. We ask it in the name of Christ, 105 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:23,440 Amen. You may be seated. 106 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:31,360 So considering that all of these antithesis statements are meant 107 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,560 to show us how to reflect the character of God, today's sermon 108 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:39,640 could be summed up this way. Kingdom citizens reflect the 109 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:44,040 perfect character of the Father by speaking truthfully and 110 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,360 responding to evil with humble restraint and active love, even 111 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,160 toward their enemies. Let me say that one more time. 112 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,320 Kingdom citizens reflect the perfect character of the Father 113 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:59,240 by speaking truthfully and responding to evil with humble 114 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,880 restraint and act of love, even toward their enemies. 115 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:05,520 So we're going to unpack this a bit. 116 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,280 We're going to look at each one of these sections and these 117 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:11,360 statements provide some explanation and consider 118 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,080 applications. So if you're taking notes, 119 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,280 there's going to be some filled in the blank here as we go. 120 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,040 So the first way that we reflect the character of the Father is 121 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,000 Kingdom citizens speak with integrity. 122 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:25,920 Kingdom citizens speak with integrity. 123 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,760 Let's look again at verses 33 through 37 on oaths. 124 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,040 Again, you've heard it said to those of old, You shall not 125 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,120 swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. 126 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:41,800 But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven or 127 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,040 by earth, or by Jerusalem, or by your head. 128 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,760 Let what you say simply be yes or no. 129 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,360 Now remember each one of these statements that we've been 130 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,400 studying these you have heard it said, but I tell you is based on 131 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,960 a misconception of the Old Testament law that Jesus is 132 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,680 quoting. And in this case he's 133 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,240 referencing Numbers chapter 30, verse 2, which says if a man 134 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,480 vows A vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a 135 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,760 pledge, he shall not break his word. 136 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,160 He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 137 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,680 And also Leviticus 1912 You shall not swear by to my name 138 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,560 falsely, and so profane the name of your God. 139 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,040 I am the Lord. So just like with many of the 140 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:33,240 other laws, the Pharisees had created these external loopholes 141 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:38,360 and technicalities that violated the very heart of why that law 142 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,679 was written in the 1st place. The Pharisees had built a system 143 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:45,840 that allowed deceptive truthfulness. 144 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,400 They would swear by something with no intentions of fulfilling 145 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,400 that oath at all, because the thing that they swore by wasn't 146 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,560 that binding. It wasn't that important. 147 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,440 One commentator said. The situation described is 1, in 148 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,880 which many Jews viewed swearing by heaven or earth or Jerusalem 149 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,760 or one's head as less binding than swearing by God, so they 150 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,840 didn't feel as obligated to keep their word. 151 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,440 However, Jesus stresses that each of these items belongs to 152 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:20,040 God in a very important way and so with his teaching Jesus 153 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:25,960 restores the laws true demand which is truth from the heart, 154 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,760 truth from the heart. God himself is a God of truth 155 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,720 and his people are called to mirror him in that Christ 156 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:40,120 himself said in John 14, six I am the way, the truth and the 157 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,160 life right? So we are called to be Christ 158 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,480 like by the renewing of our mind and being conformed to his image 159 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:51,480 and He is truth. So in regards to truth, we do 160 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,760 this by being a people of integrity. 161 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,560 We walk the walk. We don't just talk the talk. 162 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,760 We don't just show up on Sunday morning and put on a happy face 163 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,040 and pretend to be Christians, people of truth. 164 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,080 We live by the truth. We teach the truth. 165 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,680 We speak with truth in our words. 166 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,640 Integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or 167 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:20,960 earnestness of 1's actions. So it is the opposite of 168 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,760 hypocrisy. The hypocrisy on one hand and 169 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,080 integrity on the other. You can't be both. 170 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:32,160 So in other words, we shouldn't have to say I swear on my Mama. 171 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,280 We shouldn't have to do that right? 172 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,880 Or I swear to God those words should never come from our 173 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,320 mouth. The kids worship God has a pinky 174 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,080 problem. We shouldn't even have to pinky 175 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,920 swear or do scouts on or any of those things. 176 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,960 As Christians, our word should be our word and our character is 177 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:55,600 what makes us trustworthy. We should be a people of such 178 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,240 integrity that when we give our word, you can take it to the 179 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,480 bank when our heart is true. You don't need to add decoration 180 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,360 or fluff to your speech to be believed. 181 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,840 Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no. 182 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,240 Matthew Henry said Don't miss this. 183 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,760 I know we use a lot of quotes at times and it's easy to get lost, 184 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:20,560 but this is so good. The worse men are, the less they 185 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:25,080 are bound by oaths. The better they are, the less 186 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:29,400 there is a need for them. So as Christians we should 187 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,360 reflect the character of God by being a people of truth. 188 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,760 Our speech shouldn't be characterized by gossip, 189 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,520 exaggeration, manipulation, or half truths. 190 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,600 We shouldn't make excuses or bend the truth to our needs. 191 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:46,200 Let your yes be yes and your no be no. 192 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:51,640 Do what you say you will do. Don't commit to something and 193 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,920 then not do it. Now this can be a variety of 194 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,080 things, right? This can be as big as marriage 195 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:02,360 vows, if you think about it. When you say I do, you're simply 196 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,640 saying yes to all the things that that preacher has just 197 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,360 asked. Do you swear to? 198 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,960 Will you be with them through sickness and health, through 199 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,400 good and bad, for rich and poor? Do you do these things? 200 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,200 When you say I do, you're saying yes, I will do those things. 201 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,960 So it can be as big as that, keeping your word, or it can be 202 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,600 as small as just being on time for something. 203 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,880 If you say you're going to be somewhere at a certain time, be 204 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,080 there on time. This is a soapbox of mine. 205 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:31,800 If you can't tell, it's a pet peeve. 206 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,120 Be on time. Other people are waiting on you. 207 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,800 So it's that simple. Just be a person of integrity 208 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,120 and character that does what you commit to do. 209 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,320 Ephesians 415 says speaking the truth and love, we are to grow 210 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,440 up in every way into him who is the head into Christ. 211 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,120 So speaking the truth and love is part of our sanctification. 212 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,920 It's part of our maturity as Christians. 213 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,360 As we learn to do this, we grow in this. 214 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,360 The point is to be the kind of person whose word is enough be a 215 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,560 people of integrity. Now the second way do we reflect 216 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:13,320 the character of the Father is Kingdom citizens refuse 217 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,920 retaliation. We refuse retaliation. 218 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,560 Look at verses 38 through 42, and many of your Bibles have 219 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:24,280 these subtitles, these headers of retaliation and oaths and all 220 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,720 of that. You've heard that it was said, 221 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,400 an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 222 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,960 But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. 223 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,760 If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him, the other 224 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:36,440 also. And if anyone would sue you and 225 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,680 take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 226 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,320 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him to give to the 227 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,600 one who begs from you. Do not refuse the one who would 228 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,560 borrow from you. So again, Jesus is quoting Old 229 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:51,840 Testament law. Exodus 2124 says eye for eye, 230 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,320 tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. 231 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,920 Deuteronomy 1921 says your eyes shall not pity, it shall be life 232 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,880 for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for 233 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,760 foot. I remember in the Old Testament 234 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,680 when we read through these books, we see three different 235 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:13,400 kinds of law. In the Old Testament there was 236 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,280 the moral law, which was like the 10 commandments. 237 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,920 Those laws are still binding on us today as Christians. 238 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,600 We don't do away with those because we're not Jews, we're 239 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,840 not part of Israel. Those moral laws stand forever. 240 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,520 There was also the civil law. This was the the nation of 241 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:35,400 Israel's law system. Right there courts those laws. 242 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,600 And then there was their ceremonial law that involved the 243 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,040 temple and the sacrifices and the things like that. 244 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,480 For the most part, we are not bound by, do not adhere to their 245 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,160 civil laws and ceremonial laws. That was done away with. 246 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,760 So I for an I was part of their civil law. 247 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,040 It was a judicial principle which essentially meant that the 248 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,640 punishment should fit the crime in court. 249 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,160 So eye for an eye was the thing that when you go to court, 250 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,080 whatever the crime was, the punishment should be equal to 251 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,600 that. It should fit the crime. 252 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,640 This is good and right because the civil authorities are God's 253 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:15,760 appointed means of justice. According to Romans 13, justice 254 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,720 should be executed fairly, right? 255 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,560 We still believe in this today. This is still a good principle, 256 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,680 however, in this text. The reason Jesus brings this up 257 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,240 is that many had adopted this principle for themselves and 258 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,560 their own personal life. It wasn't about the courts 259 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,720 anymore. They made themselves the judge, 260 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:39,560 jury, and executioner. In essence, Jesus is forbidding 261 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,440 personal revenge in this passage. 262 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,520 Proverbs 2022 says do not say I will repay evil. 263 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,320 Wait for the Lord and He will deliver you. 264 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,120 So as Christians, we are not to take justice into our own hands. 265 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,680 We're not to seek retaliation when wrong. 266 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,840 We are to leave that to God. Our part is to be humble and 267 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,160 forgiving and seek peace where possible. 268 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,960 We're called to be peacemakers. Now, there are numerous New 269 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,640 Testament teachings on this. When you think about what this 270 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,520 involves with forgiving people, right overlooking an offence. 271 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,960 Ephesians 432 be kind to one another, tender hearted, 272 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,520 forgiving one another as God and Christ forgave you. 273 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,400 Colossians 313 bearing with one another, and if one has 274 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,720 complained against another, forgiving one another as the 275 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,520 Lord's forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 276 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,080 Matthew 6 that we've already covered verses 14 through 50. 277 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,360 Sorry we haven't gotten there yet. 14 and 15. 278 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,960 If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father 279 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,360 will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive them, 280 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:43,480 your heavenly Father won't forgive you. 281 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,960 So the point of all this is that rather than seeking revenge, 282 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:52,800 Christians are to be patient, kind, forgiving, willing to 283 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,080 accept persecution and insult in the name of Christ. 284 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:02,200 Because when we truly understand what's known as the scandalous 285 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,480 grace of Christ, which we're fixing to learn all about as we 286 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,760 enter into Easter time, that he died on a cross, died a sinner's 287 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,440 death, even though he had done nothing wrong, He had never 288 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,400 sinned. And he did that for a bunch of 289 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:22,040 wretched, nasty, vile sinners. Us, that's not fair. 290 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,040 That's why it's called scandalous grace, because he 291 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,359 gave something that was not deserved or earned. 292 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,960 And so as I've mentioned, we are to emulate him in that we extend 293 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,480 forgiveness and grace where it's not earned, it's not deserved, 294 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,400 but we are trying to be Christ like in these ways. 295 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,840 Spurgeon said this. If any man thinks I'll of you, 296 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,880 don't be angry with him. You're way worse than he thinks 297 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,000 you are. Amen. 298 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,560 Right. If they only knew the half of 299 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,200 it. In fact, what we are seeing here 300 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,120 is that Christians shouldn't just do the bare minimum by not 301 00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:02,880 retaliating. We are to go above and beyond by 302 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,160 actually doing good to those who offend us. 303 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,000 There are 4 examples given in this text. 304 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,160 The first is the slap on the right cheek. 305 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,200 And I'm sure some of you have heard this before but think 306 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:15,960 about this. This is easy to Passover when 307 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,920 you're reading your Bible. Most people are right-handed, 308 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,760 not all but most. I'm right-handed and so if I 309 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,640 were looking at you and I was going to slap you like I'm 310 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,400 fixing to attack you and lay hands on you and slap you, which 311 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,640 cheek would I hit? Your left cheek right? 312 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,000 Jesus says if someone slapped you on your right cheek, So what 313 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000 does he mean? How how would I, how would I do 314 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,320 that? A backhand right. 315 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:47,480 This was a common Jewish insult. It wasn't necessarily a physical 316 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,160 attack like you're fixing a fight. 317 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,840 It was an insult. So many of you've seen the old 318 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,480 movies, right? It back in the day with the 319 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,960 Knights in shining armor. They would take off a glove and 320 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,080 you know, and that would start the fight. 321 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,160 Then they would go duel or joust or whatever. 322 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,680 This is what's happening here. It's an insult. 323 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,760 It's a put down. It's a challenge to someone. 324 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,520 So Jesus is saying when you are insulted in this way, don't 325 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,680 return the insult with another insult. 326 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,360 In fact, turn the other cheek rather than returning the 327 00:19:19,360 --> 00:19:21,160 insult. Say thank you Sarah, may I have 328 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,680 another? That should be our response. 329 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,080 As Christians, we are to be loving and peacemakers. 330 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:27,640 Don't worry about being insulted. 331 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:32,320 It's just words or a slap. Then you see the tunic in the 332 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,200 cloak thing. Now this is like a shirt and a 333 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:38,240 coat, and it's referencing here that someone would take you to 334 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,400 court over this. So Jesus is saying don't just 335 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,080 give him your shirt, give him your shirt and your jacket. 336 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:45,960 Give him more than what he's asking for. 337 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,040 Be willing to relinquish your personal rights when wronged in 338 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,280 order to make peace, because blessed are the peacemakers. 339 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,360 Then you see the example of going 2 miles instead of 1. 340 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,720 Now this is another interesting one because back then they were 341 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,360 under Roman rule. And when the Roman military 342 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:06,840 would move from one town to the other, they would have a lot of 343 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:08,960 gear and equipment to take with them. 344 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,280 So as their soldiers are going down the road, maybe he's got 345 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,000 his, his rucksack and his AR15 and his Glock 9 mil and all 346 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,400 those things he's carrying, right? 347 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:19,440 And he can't carry it all 'cause it's so heavy. 348 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,720 So they would see a citizen and say, hey, pick something up and 349 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,920 help us carry this. So Jesus is saying, don't just 350 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:29,120 go what's required of you by going one mile. 351 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,440 Go above and beyond. Go 2 miles with him. 352 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,120 Do more than what he's asking, even though you might have been 353 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:36,440 in the middle of doing something and he's taking advantage of 354 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,320 you. Go the extra mile with him. 355 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,040 This is where we get that expression. 356 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,800 Go the second mile with someone or go the extra mile. 357 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,440 And then we see another example of a beggar. 358 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,600 It says to give to the one who begs for you, even if it's 359 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,800 undeserved, even if you know they don't need it. 360 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,120 In other words, Christians should not be people eager to 361 00:20:56,120 --> 00:20:59,280 repay every insult or injury or just do the bare minimum. 362 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:04,240 That kind of attitude is born out of anger, which Kyle just 363 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:08,200 preached on recently, or worse, self righteousness. 364 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,960 Who do they think they are to offend me in this way? 365 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:18,680 So let me say though, in this section on retaliation, there is 366 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,520 a very important distinction that must be made. 367 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,440 This passage is talking about personal ethics, OK? 368 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,480 This is not talking about the role of the civil magistrate or 369 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,840 the government. The punishment should still fit 370 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,360 the crime and we entrust the God ordained governing authorities 371 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,920 to execute justice. Romans 13 says that the state 372 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,920 does not bear the sword in vain. That's what they're there for. 373 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:51,680 This also does not negate legitimate self self-defense. 374 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,680 It also doesn't negate the duty to restrain evil. 375 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:02,360 In this passage, Jesus forbids personal vengeance is revenge 376 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:04,800 that he's after, not justice itself. 377 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,560 He's not prohibiting all resistance to evil in every 378 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:10,680 sense of the word. No, he's not doing that. 379 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,120 Scripture consistently affirms the legitimacy legitimacy of 380 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:18,840 self-defense, the responsibility of governing authorities to 381 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,880 punish evil, and even the duty to protect others from harm. 382 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,640 Defending your family is not a sin. 383 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:32,240 It would be a sin to allow those under your care to be harmed 384 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,200 when you could have done something to prevent it. 385 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,680 You are more obligated to them than you are to that stranger 386 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:42,040 who would do them harm. Stopping evil can actually be an 387 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:46,680 act of love to prevent further harm and evil from escalating. 388 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,440 So a great example here. Obviously things are coming to 389 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,720 our mind when we think of like an attack right? 390 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,040 But with the beggar, it says give to the one who begs from 391 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,200 you. It would be unloving to enable 392 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,120 alcohol or drug abuse in someone who's asking money of you, or 393 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:06,880 even just poor stewardship. If someone has not learned a 394 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,080 thing about managing finances and continue to come for you to 395 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,520 you for money, it's not loving to just feed that habit and 396 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:17,400 enable them. Rather, maybe what we should do 397 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,000 is offer to get them help somewhere, offer to coach them 398 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,360 in finances, offer to help them get in a rehab, help them find a 399 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:26,760 job. Yes, do good, but don't enable 400 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,760 the sin. We are not to be their biggest 401 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,000 cheerleader. Whatever their choice, sin might 402 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:33,760 be right? That's not what this passage is 403 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,640 saying. Like I'm glad that that's the 404 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:36,960 sin you chose. Good for you. 405 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,960 Who am I to judge? No, that's not what we do. 406 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:44,960 We never condone sin. 2nd Thessalonians 310 says if 407 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,120 anyone's not willing to work, let him not eat. 408 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:52,040 So again, someone might be lazy. Maybe they just won't work. 409 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,200 It's not good for us to continue to support that habit. 410 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,000 Not that we can't help them. Not that if you give to that 411 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,800 person, God's going to hate you for that. 412 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,960 He will bless that. But let's think of real ways to 413 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,040 do good and help them. So these verses shouldn't be 414 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:11,240 taken as a command toward pacifism or to become a doormat 415 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,840 for people that you're just supposed to do whatever people 416 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,080 want you to do, right? Whatever they ask of you, 417 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,600 whatever they do to you, you're just supposed to take it laying 418 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,320 down, right? No, not at all. 419 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,680 But we should be willing to suffer insult or even 420 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,440 persecution for the sake of Christ if that's what's required 421 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,800 of us. We also have a responsibility, 422 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,520 as I've mentioned, to provide safety for our families and 423 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,200 prevent harm toward others and encourage good stewardship. 424 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,440 Now at this point, you might be thinking to yourself, this is 425 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,360 too hard. I can't do this. 426 00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:46,200 If someone slaps me, they're going to catch these hands, 427 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,760 right? We might be thinking that we 428 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,680 think that we're incapable of extending that kind of grace 429 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,840 towards someone, especially people who don't deserve it. 430 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,320 But remember, he who is forgiven much loves much. 431 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:07,320 What greater insult has there ever been in the history of 432 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,960 humanity than the cross of Christ? 433 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,840 Truly, that was a punishment undeserved, and yet Jesus bore 434 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,240 it willingly for our sakes. When we did not deserve such 435 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,960 grace and forgiveness, we deserved God's wrath. 436 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,600 If ever anyone deserved retaliation or revenge or 437 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:32,120 punishment, it was us. But yet He forgives us. 438 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,080 So who are we to withhold forgiveness from others, even if 439 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:41,240 they don't deserve it? How dare we do that when we have 440 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:45,840 been recipients of such Amazing Grace and forgiveness? 441 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,960 How could we withhold that from others? 442 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:52,200 This is exactly what the parable of the unforgiving Debtor is 443 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,720 about, which we're going to see in Matthew 18 eventually. 444 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,960 I don't know how long that'll take, but the point is clear. 445 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:01,360 Do not seek revenge or retaliation. 446 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:04,240 Instead, humble your heart and make peace where possible. 447 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:10,080 Again, Matthew Henry says this. If any were to say I'm just a 448 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:14,040 man, I'm merely human. Flesh and blood can't pass by 449 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,280 such an insult. Let him remember that flesh and 450 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,200 blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. 451 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:24,160 So the third way that we reflect the character of the Father is 452 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,280 Kingdom. Citizens love their enemies. 453 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,760 They love their enemies. Let's look at verses 43 through 454 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,960 47 again. You have heard that it was said, 455 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,840 You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 456 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,240 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who 457 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:41,400 persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in 458 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,280 heaven. For he makes his Son to rise on 459 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,120 the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the 460 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:49,480 unjust. For if you love those who love 461 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,680 you, what reward do you have? Do not even tax collectors do 462 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,720 the same? And if you greet only your 463 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,960 brothers, what more are you doing than others? 464 00:26:57,120 --> 00:26:58,840 Do not even Gentiles do the same? 465 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,520 So this goes hand in hand with what we just read on 466 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:06,440 retaliation, but it's a slightly different again here Jesus is 467 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,320 expounding on an Old Testament law, but this one's interesting. 468 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,560 He says you've heard it said you shall love your neighbor. 469 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:15,560 Pretty simple, right? We've heard that. 470 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,240 Where's that at? Let's see Leviticus 1918. 471 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:22,040 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons 472 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:26,080 of your own people, but shall love your neighbor as yourself. 473 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:30,040 I am the Lord, so loving our neighbor is pretty clear, right? 474 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,240 But what about you shall hate your enemy? 475 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:34,520 He said. You have heard it said. 476 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,520 You shall love your neighbor. You shall hate your enemy. 477 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,120 Where's that one at? Where's that verse? 478 00:27:38,120 --> 00:27:41,920 Where's that come from? It doesn't. 479 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:46,200 It's not in there. That's not in the Old Testament 480 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:48,000 law. That's not a command at all. 481 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,480 In fact, what had happened was just like they took these civil 482 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,960 judicial laws and started to apply them personally when it 483 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:01,320 came to revenge. They took verses like Psalm 5, 484 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,760 four through 5 that says, for you are not a God who delights 485 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,600 in wickedness, evil may not dwell with you. 486 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,600 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes. 487 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,720 You hate all evil doers. They took verses like that about 488 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,200 God and thought, well then I need to do that too, that that 489 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,920 applies to me too. I have to hate evil doers and 490 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,160 evil doers, or anyone that's not like me. 491 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,480 The scribes and Pharisees had taken this to mean that they 492 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,320 should hate their enemies, which would be anyone unlike them, not 493 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:37,680 in their camp of people. So they restricted love to their 494 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:41,200 neighbors, their fellow countrymen, those like them. 495 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:43,880 A great example. They hated the Gentiles, 496 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,960 despised them. Jesus points out that even the 497 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,160 tax collectors and the Gentiles do this. 498 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,480 The very thing you're doing, your enemies do even they can do 499 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:59,600 that much. Jesus then flips the script on 500 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:04,960 him and he commands a God like love, which extends even to 501 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,760 enemies. He explains with an example. 502 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,960 The Father sends sunshine and rain to the evil and good to the 503 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:16,640 just and the unjust. Now this reflects what is known 504 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:23,120 as God's common grace, His blessings that extend to all 505 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,840 people, no matter whether a Christian or not. 506 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,560 This is not the same thing as saving grace, but it is real 507 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:36,480 kindness toward the undeserving. So we all, believers and 508 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,800 unbelievers, Christians, non Christians alike, wake up every 509 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,320 day to God's common grace. Just think about this. 510 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:47,080 We breathe His oxygen into our lungs. 511 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,520 We get up out of bed and walk because He gave us that ability 512 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:54,960 to do so. We feel His sunshine on our 513 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,240 face. We see the smile of newborn 514 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,600 babies. We smell fresh flowers. 515 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,320 We actually get to taste food. Have you ever thought about 516 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:07,520 that? God did not have to make us with 517 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,280 taste buds. He could have just made it where 518 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:12,200 everything tasted the same and it's just fuel. 519 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,880 But He gave us taste buds and you get to eat things like 520 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,640 steak. How amazing is that? 521 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:20,320 God is so good. These are common graces that all 522 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,920 people get, right? We get laughter and we get 523 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,480 tears. He gave us dogs, not cats, 524 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,360 they're from Satan, but he gave us dogs. 525 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,760 We could go on and on and on and on about the blessings of God 526 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:38,600 that he pours out on everybody. No matter you're standing before 527 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:40,920 most Christian, non Christian, we all experience this. 528 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:45,160 These are common graces. And so if God shows common grace 529 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,240 to everyone, even his enemies, we are to do the same. 530 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,920 We are to reflect his character. We should show common grace 531 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,520 toward all people, even our enemies. 532 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:58,360 Proverbs 2521 through 22 says if your enemy is hungry, give him 533 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,880 bread to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water 534 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,520 to drink, for you will heap a burning coals on his head and 535 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:09,480 the Lord will reward you. Aha, it's not just do good 536 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:13,840 things to my enemies in so doing I'm heaping burning coals on his 537 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:15,200 head. Now if we can all get on board 538 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,800 with that right, the person that insults us or attacks us like 539 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:22,480 put some coals on your head. See Paul sums up the all this 540 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,240 teaching on retaliation and loving enemies well in Romans 541 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,040 12/14 through 21. Let me read you this real quick. 542 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,440 He actually quotes both the proverbs I've just told you and 543 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,320 sums all this up. He says bless those who 544 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,920 persecute you, bless and do not curse them. 545 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,720 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with the weeping with 546 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,400 harmony with one another. Don't be haughty associated with 547 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,880 a lowly. Never be wise in your own sight, 548 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:48,720 OK, Repay no one evil, evil for evil, but give thought to what 549 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:52,800 is honorable in the sight of all, if possible, so far as it 550 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:57,040 depends on you, Live peaceably with all, beloved. 551 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,080 Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, 552 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,080 for it is written, vengeance is mine. 553 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,480 I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary. 554 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:07,360 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. 555 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,240 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink, for by doing 556 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:12,440 so, you keep burning coals on his head. 557 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:18,720 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 558 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:24,440 Did you catch that? There's a kicker in there. 559 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,560 We actually overcome evil with good. 560 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:32,920 This is not a defensive tactic. This is an offensive tactic. 561 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:37,160 We're on the offense. We are overcoming evil through 562 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,040 doing the good to the evil doer. We're not retreating. 563 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:43,600 We're advancing in this fight by doing this. 564 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:48,200 The point is not to allow evil or help it grow. 565 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,120 The point is to overcome it with good. 566 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:54,240 But in true Jesus fashion, just like so many other things in 567 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,080 scripture, we do it the exact opposite. 568 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,520 The way that our flesh in the world would think we would do 569 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:01,720 this right, we naturally would think we need to smite our 570 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,480 enemies. But no, Christ calls us to do 571 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:09,240 the opposite, to love them. Now this raises a question, an 572 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:12,240 important question. How do I do this? 573 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,440 How do I love my enemies? We saw the examples of give him 574 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,920 food and give him water, but how do I actually do this in my 575 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:23,120 day-to-day life? In James Baird's book King of 576 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:27,680 Kings, he says the first divine duty of every creature is to 577 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:32,800 accept reality. Hence, if we acted as though 578 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:37,120 friends and enemies were the same thing, we would fail in 579 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,280 that first duty. That's not realistic. 580 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,720 OK, yes, we're called the love of our enemies, but that doesn't 581 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,000 mean they're our friends, right? They are our enemy. 582 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:50,640 We would disconnect from God's world if we treated them the 583 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:51,960 same and thought of them the same. 584 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:56,080 So enemies are real things, but Jesus tells us to love them. 585 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:00,040 But that actually makes Jesus's command harder, not easier. 586 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,560 If we're not to treat our enemies as our friends, then how 587 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:05,760 do we treat them? How do we love them? 588 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:09,880 Love means to will the good for someone. 589 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,679 Whoever our enemies may be, big or small, we must use our power 590 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:19,199 to give them good things. In most situations, we can find 591 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:21,000 simple ways to fulfill this command. 592 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:23,719 When someone insults us, we don't insult them back. 593 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,239 When they slap us, we turn the other cheek, right? 594 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,719 But let's suppose for a second that a serial killer breaks into 595 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,480 your home with a gun and tries to murder your family. 596 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:37,639 What does willing the good for them look like? 597 00:34:37,639 --> 00:34:40,880 In that scenario, you don't have many options. 598 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:45,239 The best good you can give them is the good of stopping them 599 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:46,960 from committing this terrible sin. 600 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,920 This is an extreme example, but it draws out an important 601 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:53,920 principle. When our enemies aim to do evil 602 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:57,160 things to others, the best way to love them is to stop them. 603 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:02,720 So again, loving your enemies does not mean enabling sin, or 604 00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:05,920 applauding it, or cheering it on as their biggest cheerleader. 605 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,440 It doesn't mean advocating for sin or ignoring injustice. 606 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:15,240 In some cases, loving enemies may mean opposing their evil and 607 00:35:15,240 --> 00:35:17,880 preventing them from harming others or themselves. 608 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,600 Examples of this? Calling the authorities when 609 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,440 necessary. Say you see an abuse victim. 610 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:28,400 Call the cops. Intervene to stop harm to 611 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,120 others. Set righteous boundaries with 612 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,400 sinful friends or family. That's OK to do. 613 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,200 Share the gospel with those living in sin. 614 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,720 These are ways you can do good to prevent further evil in sin 615 00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:43,440 and harm. You see, true love seeks the 616 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:47,080 good of others, including restraining them from doing 617 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:50,760 greater evil. And so you reflect your Father 618 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:55,920 not by who you love, but how you love, especially those who 619 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,400 oppose you. Practically, we can pray for our 620 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:03,320 enemies, we can refuse hatred and bitterness and revenge, and 621 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,520 we can actively seek to do good toward them however we can, so 622 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:12,680 far as it depends on us. With that, we conclude the 623 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:15,960 antithesis section of the Sermon on the Mount, and we get to 624 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:18,640 verse 48. Look at chapter 5, verse 48 625 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,920 again. You therefore must be perfect, 626 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,000 as your heavenly Father is perfect. 627 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,280 Oh, OK, just perfect. Sure, we can do that, right? 628 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:35,680 This statement provides a really great bookend to this section 629 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:39,160 when we pair it with what we saw in chapter 5, verse 20. 630 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,240 That said, unless your righteousness exceeds that of 631 00:36:42,240 --> 00:36:45,240 the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not see the Kingdom of 632 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:47,520 heaven. So your righteousness has to 633 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,000 exceed the scribes and Pharisees. 634 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,080 You got to be perfect like your Father's perfect. 635 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:53,680 Those are great bookends to everything we've been reading 636 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:56,880 the last few weeks. Again, it sounds impossible, 637 00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:59,960 right? Who can be perfect, right? 638 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:03,320 I can just hear the thoughts. I'm not Jesus, bro. 639 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:06,200 I can't do that. I'm not Jesus. 640 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:11,200 Or as some modern T-shirts say, them half holy half hood, right, 641 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:12,720 Right. I love Jesus, but I cuss a 642 00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:14,680 little. Like I know you guys have seen 643 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:17,320 these things. No, you're not Jesus. 644 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:19,240 You're not. But you are called to imitate 645 00:37:19,240 --> 00:37:22,120 him. You are called the walk in 646 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:25,440 Christ, likeness in a grow and conformity to Him day by day. 647 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,440 He doesn't call us the half holiness half hood. 648 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:33,600 He calls us to be perfect as our Father is perfect. 649 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,920 The through these teachings, Jesus has shown us what perfect 650 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:41,320 righteousness looks like. Each of these commands requires 651 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:45,880 us to go above and beyond what the law requires, and this flies 652 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,280 in the face of what our flesh wants to do. 653 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:53,800 It's never been about outward conformity to a list of do's and 654 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:55,080 don'ts. That's not the point. 655 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:58,240 It's always been about the heart of a true believer. 656 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:03,800 It's about our character. Our old self is passing away and 657 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:06,520 our new self is being reborn day by day. 658 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:11,160 And through this process of progressive sanctification, we 659 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:13,920 are being conformed to the image of Christ more and more. 660 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:16,640 We are learning to love as He loved. 661 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,720 We are learning to imitate him, the one who loved a wretched 662 00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:24,760 Sinner like me and like you, when we did not deserve it. 663 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,840 And so in these verses, Jesus isn't calling us to a checklist 664 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:30,720 again. He's calling us to character, 665 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:35,280 his character, the very character of God himself. 666 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:40,320 That being the case, when we read these things, this standard 667 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:45,040 that he has set exposes us. We fall short of this. 668 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:50,400 We don't do this perfectly. We are weak sinners incapable of 669 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,480 doing any good works on our own. We cannot do this perfectly. 670 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:57,440 We will fail. We already have probably this 671 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:01,240 morning on the way here. And so after realizing that we 672 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:04,640 fall short of this, this standard also drives us to 673 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:09,800 Christ. That's why Jesus actually doing 674 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,880 these things perfectly was such a big deal. 675 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:16,240 He didn't abolish the law, He accomplished it. 676 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:19,640 He fulfilled it. He did it, every part of it 677 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:23,000 perfectly. He lived in perfect obedience to 678 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,400 the Father and offered Himself as a sacrifice so that we could 679 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,600 have that righteousness imputed on to us. 680 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:34,440 This is why we put our faith in Him, not our ability to do these 681 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,160 things. We bring all our failures, all 682 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:41,160 of this, all of our sin, all of our shortcomings to the foot of 683 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:45,000 the cross, and we ask God to forgive us and help us grow and 684 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:49,640 learn in this. Then this standard is formed in 685 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:54,040 us by the Spirit. As believers, we have the Spirit 686 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:57,560 of God living within us, a helper that enables us to live 687 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:00,520 like this, to do the things Christ is calling us to do. 688 00:40:00,720 --> 00:40:06,040 It's only through His power that we can truly extend this kind of 689 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,600 Christ like love and grace toward others. 690 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:10,840 It's only a work of the Holy Spirit in us. 691 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:15,040 We cannot do this on our own. It's unnatural to our flesh to 692 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:19,000 do this. And so all three of these things 693 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,960 we've read about these sections or these antithesis statements 694 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:25,360 today deal with the heart, not just behavior. 695 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:28,920 Oaths deal with truthfulness of the heart. 696 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:33,160 Retaliation deals with humility of the heart, and loving your 697 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:35,440 enemies deals with the compassion of your heart. 698 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:38,920 Likewise, all three reject self-centered living. 699 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:42,840 For Christians, there should be no manipulating truth, no 700 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:45,480 defending your ego, no limiting love. 701 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:49,920 The just a select few and all three reflect the Father. 702 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,880 God is truth, so we speak truth. God is patient, so we are 703 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:56,800 patient. We don't retaliate, we extend 704 00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:59,400 forgiveness and mercy. God is love. 705 00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:04,040 We show love to all people. So brothers and sisters in here 706 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:08,520 today, Christians, if you've placed your faith in Christ, the 707 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:12,040 standard set for us by Christ himself is a very high bar. 708 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:16,800 With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are 709 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,880 possible. So I encourage you to meditate 710 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,400 on these words throughout this week. 711 00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:25,080 Go back and read this and think about what we've read today. 712 00:41:25,720 --> 00:41:29,120 I want you to consider how you speak. 713 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:35,840 Think about your character. Are you trustworthy? 714 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:39,040 Would people consider you to be a trustworthy person? 715 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:41,840 Are your words big in people's ears? 716 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:44,800 Are you a man or woman of integrity? 717 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:50,000 Does your word mean anything? Think about that. 718 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,080 I'm sure that I've know I've heard of something. 719 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:53,520 That's all you really got in life, right? 720 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:57,080 Is your word and your character. Does your word mean a thing to 721 00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:58,600 people? When you commit to something? 722 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:01,320 When you say you'll do something, do they believe you? 723 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:06,080 Another thing to consider, do you retaliate when wronged? 724 00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:08,640 Are you patient, kind, and loving? 725 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,920 Are you willing to overlook an offense or do you bear a grudge? 726 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:17,080 Do you go above and beyond for those who ask of you, Do you 727 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:19,920 love your enemies? Do you pray for those who 728 00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:22,920 persecute you? Do you love them enough to 729 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:27,320 oppose their sin, share the gospel with them and truly will 730 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:30,320 their good by pointing them to Christ? 731 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:35,600 We think about that, right? Do I love my enemies enough to 732 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:37,480 actually share the gospel with them? 733 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:41,680 Maybe through God's Word today you've been convicted of your 734 00:42:41,680 --> 00:42:44,000 failure in these areas. I know how I have. 735 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,200 This was a very convicting passage to read this week. 736 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:51,960 I encourage you to flee to Christ, repent of that. 737 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:55,240 Take it to Him, ask his forgiveness and ask for his help 738 00:42:55,560 --> 00:43:02,200 and cultivating godly character, and then go forth with the 739 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:07,440 Spirit of God in you and reflect the character of of God to those 740 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:09,840 around you, as we've seen in this passage today. 741 00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:14,360 However, if you're in this place and you're not a believer, if 742 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:17,880 you have never truly put your faith in Christ, you've never 743 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:22,040 trusted Him. As I've mentioned, this standard 744 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:25,640 is very high and it's impossible in our own strength. 745 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:29,880 It's only by the Spirit of God that we can even attempt to do 746 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:36,320 this and we will fall short. For believers, we have the grace 747 00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:39,680 from God and forgiveness as we seek to be conformed to His 748 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,520 image daily. We know that our righteousness 749 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:46,600 is not found in ourselves, but it's found in Christ and His 750 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:49,680 ability to do this perfectly. Our righteousness is found in 751 00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:54,320 Him because of His perfect obedience and then sacrifice on 752 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:56,400 our behalf. We now have that righteousness 753 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,960 credited to us even though we don't do this perfectly. 754 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:04,720 But if you've never put your faith in Christ, I'm sorry to 755 00:44:04,720 --> 00:44:08,880 tell you, you fall short of God's standard and you will be 756 00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:11,440 held accountable. You will be judged. 757 00:44:12,520 --> 00:44:14,720 As I've mentioned, this isn't about do's and don'ts. 758 00:44:14,720 --> 00:44:19,400 It's about a heart change. God's Word tells us that only He 759 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:23,080 can take a heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. 760 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:27,280 So maybe you've heard this today and you realize I fail at these 761 00:44:27,280 --> 00:44:28,760 things. I'm no good at this. 762 00:44:29,360 --> 00:44:31,960 Maybe you're a liar and your word means nothing. 763 00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:35,280 Maybe you're vengeful. Maybe you hate everyone that's 764 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:38,840 not like you. If so, you need a heart change. 765 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:43,080 You need Christ to powerfully transform you. 766 00:44:43,720 --> 00:44:46,760 You need to be reborn into a new creation. 767 00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:52,000 And it is impossible for a heart of stone to show this kind of 768 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,440 compassion for others, especially your enemies. 769 00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:58,800 So Christ bids you to come to Him today to repent of your sin 770 00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:01,320 and believe in Him, to put your faith in His perfect 771 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:06,000 righteousness, not your own, and then that heart of stone will 772 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:09,760 turn into a heart of flesh and you can begin to grow in Christ 773 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:12,640 likeness. It's only by doing this, as 774 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,200 Jesus says in verse 45 of our text, that we can become sons of 775 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:20,320 our Father who is in heaven. So I invite you to come to Him 776 00:45:20,320 --> 00:45:22,240 today if you've never put your faith in Him. 777 00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:27,920 Kingdom citizens don't just avoid sin, they reflect their 778 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,200 Father. They walk in integrity and love 779 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:33,840 because they belong to Him. Amen. 780 00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:39,600 Let's pray. Father God, we pray to you this 781 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:44,640 morning and and confess our failure at this where we 782 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:49,440 understand that we are not always truthful, that our words 783 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:54,040 sometimes are misleading. We're all liars in a sense, 784 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:56,400 Lord. We have sought retaliation and 785 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,600 revenge against those who have wronged us and we don't love our 786 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:02,240 enemies. And so God, we come to you 787 00:46:02,240 --> 00:46:04,720 confessing the sin today and pray that you'll forgive us and 788 00:46:04,720 --> 00:46:08,720 that you will help us see through texts like this your 789 00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:12,960 character or help us to flee to the foot of the cross and to beg 790 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:14,680 for help in this. And we pray that you would 791 00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:18,520 cultivate this type of character in each one of us to help us be 792 00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:23,120 obedient to your law. Help us to understand that this 793 00:46:23,120 --> 00:46:26,840 is not about do's and don'ts. It's not about just external 794 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:28,880 conformity, but it's about the heart of us. 795 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:32,480 It's about our character. Lord, help us to be Christians 796 00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:35,360 who truly love you and love others. 797 00:46:36,480 --> 00:46:38,040 God, we cannot do this on our own. 798 00:46:38,040 --> 00:46:39,600 So we pray for your help in this. 799 00:46:39,600 --> 00:46:42,920 And I'll pray that anyone here today who has not placed their 800 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:47,120 faith in you would be convicted, that they would lay down the 801 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:49,840 walls and the barriers and they would trust you and put their 802 00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:53,000 faith in you. Today, Lord, we pray all these 803 00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:56,040 things, not just out of selfishness, We pray them for 804 00:46:56,040 --> 00:47:01,040 your glory that your name can be proclaimed and that your name 805 00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:05,760 would be lifted high. I want to invite you all at this 806 00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:08,640 point to just take time to reflect on this passage and what 807 00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:11,560 we've heard today. Spend some time with the Lord in 808 00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:13,880 prayer. I confess your sin. 809 00:47:13,880 --> 00:47:17,440 Ask for help in these things. Just spend some time with the 810 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:21,560 Lord and I'll pray to end us, end us and our response time 811 00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:24,280 here in just a moment. So spend just a moment with the 812 00:47:24,280 --> 00:47:56,720 Lord. Father, again, we pray for You 813 00:47:56,720 --> 00:47:58,840 to forgive us where we failed on these things. 814 00:47:59,920 --> 00:48:04,440 Pray God that today would be a turning point, that You would, 815 00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:07,960 through Your Holy Spirit, start to cultivate this character in 816 00:48:07,960 --> 00:48:11,600 US and help us to love everyone around us, even our enemies. 817 00:48:12,440 --> 00:48:15,440 Help us to honor You God, through our conduct and our 818 00:48:15,440 --> 00:48:18,440 speech. Help us to reflect your 819 00:48:18,440 --> 00:48:22,160 character. Only You can make us this kind 820 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:24,760 of people, and we ask that you do that today. 821 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:29,360 Lord, we praise you and we thank you for the grace of Christ, 822 00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:32,440 that even when we fail at these things, He loves us. 823 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:37,200 We ask all this in His name, Amen.