1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,120 It's wonderful to be here with all of you this morning, and 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:04,680 we're grateful for your presence. 3 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,160 We have several of our number that are missing, either 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,480 traveling and hopefully and prayerfully not ill. 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,760 But it's great to see all of you and we're so thankful to be 6 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,520 together, and I've enjoyed worshiping with you so very much 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,240 so far this morning. As always as the case, I do 8 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:22,880 consider it an honor to speak concerning the word of God, and 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,280 I hope what we have to consider for just a little while this 10 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,840 morning would be edifying and encouraging to you. 11 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:32,860 We're continuing our series this morning on the greatest sermon 12 00:00:32,860 --> 00:00:34,780 ever Priest, the Great Sermon on the Mount. 13 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:38,340 It begins in Matthew chapter 5, and the Sermon on the Mount is 14 00:00:38,340 --> 00:00:43,500 Matthew 5-6 and Seven, the Lord's masterpiece as he began 15 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:45,980 Matthew chapter five. He begins with giving 16 00:00:46,140 --> 00:00:50,540 requirements for citizens in the Kingdom, and that's covered in 17 00:00:50,540 --> 00:00:55,180 the 1st 12 verses, commonly known as the Beatitudes, and we 18 00:00:55,180 --> 00:00:56,860 covered those things in great detail. 19 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:01,500 Then, beginning in verse 13, he gives us our job, He gives us 20 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:04,620 our responsibility. He says, I want you to go and be 21 00:01:05,019 --> 00:01:08,020 the salt of the earth and the light of the world. 22 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:11,820 In other words, to have that kind of an influence on people 23 00:01:11,820 --> 00:01:14,740 that are in the world, to lead them from darkness and lead them 24 00:01:14,740 --> 00:01:19,100 to Jesus, which is the light. But then he's going to talk 25 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:21,020 about three things that we'll notice this morning. 26 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:25,140 Number one, he begins by talking about the law and then he talks 27 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:29,240 about the commandments, and then he talks about expectations of 28 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,200 righteousness. In our lesson in our passage in 29 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,840 Matthew chapter 5 and verse 19 we have the title that I've 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,600 chosen, called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 31 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,160 chapter 5 and verse 19. Jesus says whoever therefore 32 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,120 breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men, 33 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,480 shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. 34 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,320 But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great 35 00:01:56,810 --> 00:01:59,810 in the Kingdom of heaven. What an amazing concept. 36 00:01:59,810 --> 00:02:01,890 Great in the Kingdom of heaven. And we're going to talk about 37 00:02:01,890 --> 00:02:04,290 what that means just a little bit later. 38 00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:07,650 But first of all, we've got to back up to verse 17 and let's 39 00:02:07,650 --> 00:02:11,090 talk about what Jesus said about the law in verse 17. 40 00:02:11,090 --> 00:02:17,330 He says this do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or 41 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:20,450 the prophets. Now obviously he's talking to 42 00:02:20,450 --> 00:02:24,130 Jewish people in a Jewish audience on this great day, on 43 00:02:24,130 --> 00:02:28,200 this great Sermon on the Mount, and among those were among those 44 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,600 Jews, they would have understood a whole lot about the law of 45 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,280 Moses. Jesus says, I didn't come to 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,320 destroy the law, and I didn't come to destroy the prophets. 47 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,960 I came to fulfill them. Now let's just back up and talk 48 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,360 about the word law. The word law in this passage is 49 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,240 actually a word that's actually a technical term referring to 50 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,200 the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, 51 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,960 Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. 52 00:02:55,380 --> 00:02:58,820 And those books are often times called the books of Moses. 53 00:02:59,020 --> 00:03:02,420 They're called the books of law because that's when God gave the 54 00:03:02,420 --> 00:03:05,340 law to Moses. And thirdly, it's called the 55 00:03:05,340 --> 00:03:08,180 Penitook and is talking about the first five books of the 56 00:03:08,180 --> 00:03:09,140 Bible. We get that. 57 00:03:09,820 --> 00:03:13,340 What about the word prophets? Well, the prophets obviously are 58 00:03:13,340 --> 00:03:15,980 referring to the literary prophets that are found in the 59 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:18,980 Old Testament. And of those literary prophets, 60 00:03:18,980 --> 00:03:22,220 there are 17. There are five major prophets 61 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,080 and there are 12 minor profits. And by the way, a major profit 62 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,440 wasn't more important than a minor minor profit. 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,240 You know this. A major profit was called a 64 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,360 major profit because the writings were longer, and a 65 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,000 minor profit was called a minor profit because the writings were 66 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,720 shorter. Those were the literary profits 67 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,320 that were found in the Old Testament. 68 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,160 OK, we understand that. But when the phrase Law and 69 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,880 prophets are put together, it is also referring to the Old 70 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,640 Testament in its entirety. What was Jesus saying? 71 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,720 He was saying I am the fulfillment of the Old Testament 72 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:02,560 in its entirety. Let me back up and show you what 73 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,040 I mean. The entire Bible is the story of 74 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,920 Jesus. Even in the Old Testament, it's 75 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,400 all about Jesus. In fact, from the book of 76 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,640 Genesis to the book of Malachi, those 39 books of the Old 77 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,720 Testament, there's one message in all the writings and all the 78 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,240 words, the messages. This Jesus is coming from the 79 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,160 book of Matthew to the book of Acts, chapter one. 80 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,880 The message is Jesus is here. And then in Acts chapter one, 81 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,990 Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven and from that point 82 00:04:34,990 --> 00:04:38,390 forward all the way to the Book of Revelation, the message is 83 00:04:38,830 --> 00:04:43,870 Jesus is coming again. So the whole Bible is about 84 00:04:43,990 --> 00:04:46,670 Jesus. Jesus was saying I am the 85 00:04:46,670 --> 00:04:50,950 fulfillment of the law and the prophets, meaning I'm the 86 00:04:50,950 --> 00:04:54,870 fulfillment of even the entire Old Testament in its entirety. 87 00:04:55,110 --> 00:04:59,670 Okay. Why did Jesus say these words? 88 00:04:59,870 --> 00:05:03,970 I think there's two reasons why did he point this out about the 89 00:05:03,970 --> 00:05:07,170 law and the prophets. I think there's two reasons, #1. 90 00:05:08,570 --> 00:05:14,930 Jesus was accused many times of being against the law of Moses 91 00:05:15,530 --> 00:05:17,850 because the things that he preached were different than any 92 00:05:17,850 --> 00:05:20,970 man had ever preached. He was preaching new revelation. 93 00:05:20,970 --> 00:05:22,530 He was preaching about a new Kingdom. 94 00:05:22,650 --> 00:05:24,370 He was preaching about a new way. 95 00:05:25,250 --> 00:05:27,970 So many people thought that he absolutely was against the law 96 00:05:27,970 --> 00:05:30,010 of Moses. So therefore, if he's against 97 00:05:30,010 --> 00:05:34,770 Moses, he rejects God. But you know Jesus is connected 98 00:05:34,770 --> 00:05:36,650 to God. You remember that Bible passage 99 00:05:36,650 --> 00:05:40,330 that says when Jesus speaks about himself and he says don't 100 00:05:40,330 --> 00:05:43,690 call me good. He said there's one good and 101 00:05:43,690 --> 00:05:46,570 that is God. Now Jesus wasn't saying I'm not 102 00:05:46,570 --> 00:05:49,290 good. What he was saying is, if you're 103 00:05:49,290 --> 00:05:52,410 going to call me good, you have to recognize who I am. 104 00:05:53,110 --> 00:05:56,430 You have to recognize my deity. You have to recognize that I am 105 00:05:56,430 --> 00:05:58,390 divine. You have to recognize that I'm 106 00:05:58,390 --> 00:06:01,310 the son of God. You have to recognize that I'm 107 00:06:01,310 --> 00:06:04,670 connected to God in every way. That's why he said there's only 108 00:06:04,670 --> 00:06:07,710 one good, and that's God. So if you call me good, you've 109 00:06:07,710 --> 00:06:09,790 got to call me and recognize what I am. 110 00:06:10,150 --> 00:06:12,310 Deity. I am God the son. 111 00:06:12,550 --> 00:06:15,190 I am the son of God. I'm connected to God. 112 00:06:15,390 --> 00:06:18,350 Okay. So we had to undo that. 113 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:21,800 But he also had to prove to them two things also. 114 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,920 One, he was greater than the Law and the Prophets. 115 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,200 And he was also the fulfillment of all of it too. 116 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,800 I got to mention one passage. I'll not go into detail. 117 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,040 You've heard me preach on this. I'm going to be very brief, but 118 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,400 I have to mention one aspect of 1 passage that you know about 119 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,800 and it's Matthew 17. When Jesus was on the Mount of 120 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,480 Transfiguration. I'll Fast forward. 121 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,920 Transfer. Figured he is faced to shine 122 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,090 like the sun. Moses and Elijah were there and 123 00:06:51,210 --> 00:06:53,170 Peter, James and John were there as witnesses. 124 00:06:53,170 --> 00:06:57,850 We know the story, OK? Moses was there because Moses 125 00:06:57,850 --> 00:07:03,370 represented the law. Elijah was there because Elijah 126 00:07:03,370 --> 00:07:07,130 represented the prophets. When Jesus's face was 127 00:07:07,130 --> 00:07:11,050 transfigured and his face did shine like the sun, it proved to 128 00:07:11,050 --> 00:07:13,610 the witnesses Peter, James and John two things. 129 00:07:13,690 --> 00:07:18,390 One, He's greater than Moses that represented the law, and 130 00:07:18,390 --> 00:07:21,910 he's greater than Elijah that represented the prophets and #2 131 00:07:21,910 --> 00:07:25,830 and that goes to this passage. He is the fulfillment of both 132 00:07:25,830 --> 00:07:31,510 the law and the prophets. That's what Jesus said, Okay. 133 00:07:32,110 --> 00:07:34,910 But then in verse 18 he says this about the law. 134 00:07:35,550 --> 00:07:39,670 He said for assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass 135 00:07:39,950 --> 00:07:42,070 away. Now why did Jesus say that? 136 00:07:42,070 --> 00:07:44,830 Why did he say till heaven and earth pass away? 137 00:07:45,860 --> 00:07:47,460 Well, first of all, heaven and earth. 138 00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:53,020 By the way, heaven and earth are the two most permanent physical 139 00:07:53,020 --> 00:07:56,500 structures known to man, heaven and earth. 140 00:07:57,060 --> 00:08:00,460 And Jesus uses these words to demonstrate the certainty of the 141 00:08:00,460 --> 00:08:03,860 law's fulfillment. He is not saying that the Law of 142 00:08:03,860 --> 00:08:05,980 Moses will remain until the end of time. 143 00:08:05,980 --> 00:08:07,740 Because we know that that's not the case. 144 00:08:07,940 --> 00:08:12,950 We know my clicker died. We know in Ephesians chapter 2 145 00:08:12,950 --> 00:08:15,350 and verse 15. It says having abolished in his 146 00:08:15,350 --> 00:08:19,830 flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments contained in 147 00:08:19,830 --> 00:08:23,590 ordinances so as to create in himself one new man from the 148 00:08:23,590 --> 00:08:27,190 two, thus making peace. So we know this there was going 149 00:08:27,190 --> 00:08:30,150 to come a time when the old law of Moses would be abolished. 150 00:08:30,150 --> 00:08:32,909 We know that. So when Jesus says heaven and 151 00:08:32,909 --> 00:08:36,280 Ursha pass away, when he says till heaven and earth shall pass 152 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,480 away. He was not saying the duration 153 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,559 of the Law of Moses would exist until the end of time. 154 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:43,720 He was just talking about his fulfillment. 155 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,360 We know that was not going to end. 156 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,440 Go to the end of time. Look at Colossus chapter 2 and 157 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,800 verse 14. Having wiped out the handwriting 158 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,240 of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. 159 00:08:56,680 --> 00:09:00,120 And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to his 160 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:06,190 cross. OK, in Luke chapter 16, Jesus 161 00:09:06,190 --> 00:09:09,870 actually gives a little clarity. In Luke's chapter 16 and Luke's 162 00:09:09,870 --> 00:09:14,870 account, he says it's easier for heaven and earth to pass away 163 00:09:15,630 --> 00:09:18,590 than for one title of the law to fail. 164 00:09:18,750 --> 00:09:23,430 So the first part of the verse is talking about fulfillment and 165 00:09:23,430 --> 00:09:26,630 the second part is talking about duration and the duration is 166 00:09:26,630 --> 00:09:30,310 till all be fulfilled. Then we go to this second part 167 00:09:30,310 --> 00:09:32,350 of Matthew, chapter 5 and verse 18. 168 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,560 He says 1 jot and one tittle will by no means pass from the 169 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:41,160 law until all be fulfilled. Now this little part here is 170 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,680 going to be a little review. If you remember a number of 171 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:46,840 months ago when I gave the introduction to the sermon on 172 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:48,720 the mountain, I talked about a jot, A tittle. 173 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,560 OK, so maybe you already know this, maybe you don't. 174 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:53,160 But what in the world's a jot? And what's the till? 175 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:54,760 And what was the Lord's point? Here it is. 176 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,640 When he said the word jot, it comes from the Greek word iota, 177 00:10:01,370 --> 00:10:03,530 and it's the smallest letter of the alphabet. 178 00:10:04,490 --> 00:10:07,250 So what he was saying is he was saying not even the smallest 179 00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:11,290 letter of the alphabet or not even the least little bit of the 180 00:10:11,330 --> 00:10:14,770 old law is going to pass away or be done away with until all 181 00:10:14,770 --> 00:10:17,970 things are fulfilled. I got to tell you, maybe you've 182 00:10:17,970 --> 00:10:19,970 heard the phrase. I know we don't say it much 183 00:10:19,970 --> 00:10:24,890 lately or in our common language today, but I guarantee you when 184 00:10:24,890 --> 00:10:26,810 I grew up, I heard it a lot from my dad. 185 00:10:26,810 --> 00:10:29,240 You know what he would say? He would say things like this to 186 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,720 me. He would say you didn't do one 187 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:39,760 thing that I asked you to do. Not one iota, meaning not even 188 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,920 the least little bit. By the way, that's where we get 189 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:44,440 that phrase. OK? 190 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,080 What he's saying is not even the least little bit of the old law 191 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,240 will pass until all things are fulfilled. 192 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,440 Then he says this about a tittle. 193 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:52,320 What? The world's a tittle. 194 00:10:53,430 --> 00:10:56,310 A tittle is from a Greek word that means little horn, and it 195 00:10:56,310 --> 00:11:00,430 actually is the tiniest pen stroke and the tiniest pen 196 00:11:00,430 --> 00:11:03,070 stroke. Here is referring to a pen 197 00:11:03,070 --> 00:11:06,910 stroke that distinguishes between 2 letters that need that 198 00:11:06,910 --> 00:11:08,950 to distinguish the two that look kind of the same. 199 00:11:09,030 --> 00:11:11,910 Let me give you an example. In our alphabet there are two 200 00:11:11,910 --> 00:11:14,510 letters, two capital letters that look the same. 201 00:11:14,790 --> 00:11:16,750 But in order to distinguish between the two, we need a 202 00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:20,110 tittle, and that is the capital letter C and the capital letter 203 00:11:20,150 --> 00:11:23,750 G In order to make it from a C to a G, you need that little 204 00:11:23,750 --> 00:11:26,270 tiny brushstroke. That little tiny pen stroke. 205 00:11:26,550 --> 00:11:31,550 You need a tittle. OK, what he was saying is this. 206 00:11:32,870 --> 00:11:37,470 Not even the smallest little bit of the old law is going to pass 207 00:11:37,470 --> 00:11:42,990 away until all is fulfilled. OK, what is all? 208 00:11:43,710 --> 00:11:48,190 What's that mean? All is talking about the death, 209 00:11:49,470 --> 00:11:54,970 the burial, the resurrection of Jesus and the establishment of 210 00:11:54,970 --> 00:12:00,090 the Kingdom and the establishment of the Kingdom. 211 00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:07,570 Jesus is saying that through his life, his death, his burial, his 212 00:12:07,570 --> 00:12:09,930 resurrection and the establishment of the Kingdom 213 00:12:10,290 --> 00:12:12,930 with those things. When those things happen, then 214 00:12:12,970 --> 00:12:14,850 all things are going to be fulfilled. 215 00:12:15,010 --> 00:12:17,090 OKI got to make a couple of points about the Kingdom. 216 00:12:17,330 --> 00:12:21,630 What's the Kingdom? OK, what's the Kingdom? 217 00:12:22,550 --> 00:12:26,830 The Kingdom is the church. So what's the combination or 218 00:12:26,830 --> 00:12:30,230 what's the connection between the church and heaven? 219 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:33,390 What is that? Do you remember a long, long 220 00:12:33,390 --> 00:12:36,510 time ago when Jesus was walking on the face of the earth, His 221 00:12:36,510 --> 00:12:39,990 disciples came to him and they said, please teach us how to 222 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:44,270 pray. And Jesus says before all was 223 00:12:44,270 --> 00:12:47,830 fulfilled, before the Kingdom was established, before Acts 224 00:12:47,830 --> 00:12:51,310 chapter 2, before the church was brought into existence, Jesus 225 00:12:51,310 --> 00:12:55,150 taught them how to pray. He gave a model prayer for that. 226 00:12:55,270 --> 00:12:59,150 And you know, often times this is called the Lord's Prayer and 227 00:12:59,150 --> 00:13:01,190 it's referred to as the Lord's Prayer. 228 00:13:01,350 --> 00:13:04,870 It is recited, the words are memorized and people say them 229 00:13:04,870 --> 00:13:07,110 over and over and repeat them verbatim. 230 00:13:07,270 --> 00:13:09,670 That's not what the Lord wanted and that's not the Lord's 231 00:13:09,670 --> 00:13:11,070 purpose. And by the way, I got to tell 232 00:13:11,070 --> 00:13:14,430 you, if you want to know what the Lord's Prayer is, you have 233 00:13:14,430 --> 00:13:15,950 to look at the prayer that Jesus prayed. 234 00:13:15,950 --> 00:13:19,630 That's his prayer When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane and 235 00:13:19,630 --> 00:13:22,270 he prayed to his Father, That would be the Lord's Prayer. 236 00:13:22,950 --> 00:13:26,430 In those passages that people often call the Lord's Prayer, it 237 00:13:26,430 --> 00:13:30,470 was a model prayer to pray while they were still living under the 238 00:13:30,470 --> 00:13:34,110 law of Moses, and they were praying in advance about the 239 00:13:34,110 --> 00:13:35,950 Kingdom coming. And one of the things that they 240 00:13:35,950 --> 00:13:40,150 said was this our Father, which art in heaven. 241 00:13:40,770 --> 00:13:45,010 Hallow it be thy name. Then he says, thy Kingdom come, 242 00:13:45,010 --> 00:13:49,610 or when the Kingdom comes your will be done on earth as it is 243 00:13:49,610 --> 00:13:51,850 in heaven. So what's the combination or 244 00:13:51,850 --> 00:13:53,690 what's the connection between earth and heaven? 245 00:13:54,370 --> 00:13:57,890 The Church is the earthly institution of the heavenly 246 00:13:57,890 --> 00:14:00,130 Kingdom. OK, simple. 247 00:14:00,970 --> 00:14:04,250 What does Peter say about that? Peter says to the faithful child 248 00:14:04,250 --> 00:14:08,170 of God that on that last and final day, the faithful child of 249 00:14:08,170 --> 00:14:12,350 God will receive what an abundant entrance into the 250 00:14:12,430 --> 00:14:15,790 everlasting Kingdom. In other words, that's where the 251 00:14:15,790 --> 00:14:17,430 reward is. That's in heaven. 252 00:14:18,070 --> 00:14:20,710 But the earthly institution of the heavenly Kingdom is the 253 00:14:20,710 --> 00:14:23,230 church. What Jesus was saying is this. 254 00:14:23,470 --> 00:14:27,430 He was saying that the old law would be in effect and nothing 255 00:14:27,430 --> 00:14:30,910 would change from the old law until all would be fulfilled and 256 00:14:30,910 --> 00:14:35,190 that would end or be brought forth with the establishment of 257 00:14:35,190 --> 00:14:36,390 the Church. What does Fowler say? 258 00:14:36,670 --> 00:14:40,560 Fowler said this. In Jesus's ministry and Kingdom, 259 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,760 all things of the Old Law are either actually or potentially 260 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,000 fulfilled. Jesus sets in motion those 261 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,920 principles that will accomplish God's complete purpose. 262 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,800 And after he died, after he rose from the dead, after he ascended 263 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,080 to his Father, and after an Acts chapter 2, when the church is 264 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:03,240 established, then God's purpose was brought forth and all is 265 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,200 fulfilled. All right. 266 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,410 Now he's going to talk about commandments in Matthew 5 In 19 267 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:14,450 he says whosoever or whoever breaks one of the least of these 268 00:15:14,490 --> 00:15:18,850 commandments. Now why does he bring this up? 269 00:15:20,450 --> 00:15:24,330 I think his point is this, that even the least of the 270 00:15:24,330 --> 00:15:27,290 commandments of God are still from God. 271 00:15:27,290 --> 00:15:31,130 You know what the scribes and Pharisees were all about? 272 00:15:31,210 --> 00:15:35,170 Historically, The scribes and the Pharisees were all about 273 00:15:35,170 --> 00:15:37,760 this. They would minimize what they 274 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,720 considered a small commandment. They would maximize whatever 275 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,920 they would consider a big commandment. 276 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,200 So they would do away with or not pay attention to what they 277 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,400 called little, and they would only do what they considered 278 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,800 great or big. And what Jesus was saying is his 279 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,320 point is that even the least commandment of God is still from 280 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:58,640 God. Now you know this. 281 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,360 Remember when Jesus talked about the weight of your matters of 282 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:02,880 the law, You neglect the weight of your matter. 283 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,050 You know why? Because in their minds, that's 284 00:16:05,050 --> 00:16:07,970 what they did. By rabbinic tradition, they 285 00:16:07,970 --> 00:16:11,050 actually had things that they considered weightier or greater, 286 00:16:11,370 --> 00:16:15,810 like, for example, the Sabbath, and also aspects like 287 00:16:15,810 --> 00:16:18,290 circumcision. And that's why the Judaizing 288 00:16:18,290 --> 00:16:21,850 teachers in the early church tried to bind various aspects of 289 00:16:21,850 --> 00:16:24,690 the old law and Gentile converts, one of which was 290 00:16:24,690 --> 00:16:27,090 circumcision. And they would say this, you 291 00:16:27,090 --> 00:16:30,630 have to be baptized to be saved, but you have to be circumcised 292 00:16:30,630 --> 00:16:32,790 in order to remain saved. And Paul had to deal with that. 293 00:16:32,790 --> 00:16:36,270 So I said all that to say this, they thought some things were 294 00:16:36,270 --> 00:16:38,150 weightier or more important than other things. 295 00:16:38,190 --> 00:16:43,950 Jesus says no, even the smallest commandment of God is still from 296 00:16:43,950 --> 00:16:46,870 God. So what did they do? 297 00:16:48,230 --> 00:16:52,270 Through disobedience, deceit, and manmade traditions, the 298 00:16:52,270 --> 00:16:55,630 scribes and Pharisees had mastered the art of evading the 299 00:16:55,630 --> 00:17:00,330 strength of Moses Law in order to nullify its force. 300 00:17:00,490 --> 00:17:02,330 Notice what it says in Mark Chapter 7. 301 00:17:03,290 --> 00:17:05,089 And he said to them all too well. 302 00:17:05,089 --> 00:17:07,930 You reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your 303 00:17:07,930 --> 00:17:11,250 tradition. For Moses said honor your father 304 00:17:11,250 --> 00:17:15,010 and your mother, and he who curses father or mother, let him 305 00:17:15,010 --> 00:17:18,210 be put to death. But you say, if a man says to 306 00:17:18,210 --> 00:17:21,010 his father or mother, whatever prophet you might have received 307 00:17:21,010 --> 00:17:23,369 from me is Corbin. That is a gift to God. 308 00:17:24,819 --> 00:17:27,859 Then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his 309 00:17:27,859 --> 00:17:30,940 mother, making the word of God of no effect through your 310 00:17:30,940 --> 00:17:35,140 tradition, which you have handed down and many such things you 311 00:17:35,140 --> 00:17:38,580 do. So why is Jesus talking about 312 00:17:38,580 --> 00:17:41,900 disobedience? Folks, this is huge. 313 00:17:44,660 --> 00:17:46,540 I think the Lord's point is this. 314 00:17:48,260 --> 00:17:51,060 Disobedience is a hard habit to break. 315 00:17:52,860 --> 00:17:56,020 And if you were disobedient under one dispensation, the Law 316 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:59,660 of Moses, chances are you're going to struggle with 317 00:17:59,660 --> 00:18:02,740 disobedience in the new dispensation or the law of 318 00:18:02,740 --> 00:18:06,300 Christ. I think that's what his point is 319 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:07,180 here. I think that's why he's 320 00:18:07,180 --> 00:18:11,220 referring to disobedience. And it's really true if somebody 321 00:18:11,220 --> 00:18:13,340 has the attitude of disobedience, period. 322 00:18:13,340 --> 00:18:15,980 Usually they're going to be disobedient in a lot of things. 323 00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:20,570 If a person is disobedient to their parents in the home, the 324 00:18:20,570 --> 00:18:23,330 chances are they're going to be disobedient to the authority 325 00:18:23,450 --> 00:18:26,730 that's over them in school, their principal, their teachers. 326 00:18:27,690 --> 00:18:30,570 You can always tell how someone was raised based upon their 327 00:18:30,570 --> 00:18:34,210 respect that they have for their parents and how it's manifested 328 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:37,330 in other ways. Disobedience is a hard habit to 329 00:18:37,330 --> 00:18:40,570 break. I think the Lord knew that, and 330 00:18:40,570 --> 00:18:42,970 that's why in his masterful sermon he's bringing that out 331 00:18:43,010 --> 00:18:48,010 about disobedience. So he says whoever breaks one of 332 00:18:48,010 --> 00:18:52,170 these least commandments and we know that any commandment from 333 00:18:52,170 --> 00:18:54,610 God is still from God. And then he says this and 334 00:18:54,610 --> 00:18:58,090 teaches men. So all right, you know, it's 335 00:18:58,090 --> 00:19:01,850 really dangerous, isn't it? Have you ever stopped to 336 00:19:01,850 --> 00:19:09,130 consider the fate of somebody that teaches somebody wrong and 337 00:19:09,130 --> 00:19:14,170 leads them astray? Jesus says in Matthew 18 it were 338 00:19:14,170 --> 00:19:17,690 better than a millstone were hung about his neck and he were 339 00:19:17,690 --> 00:19:19,050 drowned at the depths of the sea. 340 00:19:19,050 --> 00:19:22,810 It is a very serious matter. The Lord's talking about 341 00:19:22,810 --> 00:19:25,690 disobeying God's commands, but then he says and teaches men 342 00:19:25,690 --> 00:19:26,810 also. Do you know why? 343 00:19:27,730 --> 00:19:31,530 Because when people disobey God's commands, usually they 344 00:19:31,530 --> 00:19:35,890 teach others to do the same, either by word or example. 345 00:19:37,170 --> 00:19:39,850 Defection, by the way, usually has collateral damage and it's 346 00:19:39,850 --> 00:19:42,010 really sad. Isn't that true? 347 00:19:43,210 --> 00:19:46,650 It has collateral damage. That's exactly what the scribes 348 00:19:46,650 --> 00:19:49,290 and Pharisees were all about. And Jesus rebuked that kind of 349 00:19:49,290 --> 00:19:51,170 behavior. What did Jesus say? 350 00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:55,410 He says this. If that's the case, he shall be 351 00:19:55,410 --> 00:19:58,050 called least in the Kingdom of heaven. 352 00:19:58,050 --> 00:20:01,850 What does that mean? Least in the Kingdom does not 353 00:20:01,850 --> 00:20:08,130 imply that God accepts minimal disobedience. 354 00:20:09,610 --> 00:20:13,690 That's not what this is saying. It is also not saying. 355 00:20:14,340 --> 00:20:17,260 That somebody that rejects the commands of God and rebels 356 00:20:17,260 --> 00:20:23,340 against God will only be, oh, let's just say, demoted but 357 00:20:23,340 --> 00:20:27,140 still have their reward. The phrase here shall be least 358 00:20:27,140 --> 00:20:29,700 in the Kingdom of heaven means this. 359 00:20:30,180 --> 00:20:32,420 They're not acceptable in the eyes of God. 360 00:20:33,460 --> 00:20:35,660 All right, let me talk about teachers for just a moment. 361 00:20:37,820 --> 00:20:39,900 Sometimes James three and one is misunderstood. 362 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:44,510 Let me talk about teachers. James says this, and James three 363 00:20:44,510 --> 00:20:47,230 and verse one. My brethren, let not many of you 364 00:20:47,230 --> 00:20:50,590 become teachers knowing that we shall receive stricter judgment. 365 00:20:50,590 --> 00:20:51,990 That is the new King James Version. 366 00:20:51,990 --> 00:20:55,030 The old King James Version says greater condemnation. 367 00:20:55,310 --> 00:21:00,230 That does not mean a higher degree or worse degree of 368 00:21:00,230 --> 00:21:01,710 punishment. That's not what that means at 369 00:21:01,710 --> 00:21:03,830 all. In fact, this word, stricter 370 00:21:03,830 --> 00:21:07,550 judgment here actually means stricter standards. 371 00:21:10,110 --> 00:21:14,300 Stricter standards. Those that teach God's word are 372 00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:18,060 held in a higher standard or stricter standard than those 373 00:21:18,060 --> 00:21:19,940 that do not teach from God's word. 374 00:21:20,180 --> 00:21:23,940 Guy and Wood said this. The lesson for us here is that 375 00:21:23,940 --> 00:21:26,580 leadership involves responsibility, and the greater 376 00:21:26,580 --> 00:21:29,420 the area of leadership, the greater the responsibility. 377 00:21:29,420 --> 00:21:34,820 OK, James was not saying this, by the way, so don't 378 00:21:34,820 --> 00:21:36,780 misunderstand me. To the men that are here. 379 00:21:38,220 --> 00:21:40,740 He was not discouraging men to teach and saying don't don't 380 00:21:40,780 --> 00:21:43,760 don't be a teacher. He was saying two things, please 381 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,680 get this though. He was saying if you're going to 382 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,920 be a teacher, #1 be prepared and #2 take it very seriously 383 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:57,360 because teachers are held to a stricter set of standards. 384 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,440 It's an awesome responsibility and that's the Lord's point. 385 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,810 Going back to our passage though, in Matthew though, the 386 00:22:04,810 --> 00:22:07,850 words of Jesus really are condemnation those who break 387 00:22:07,850 --> 00:22:09,930 God's laws and teach others as well. 388 00:22:10,010 --> 00:22:13,330 So what are the qualifications of those that teach? 389 00:22:13,650 --> 00:22:16,930 I've already said be prepared #2 take it seriously. 390 00:22:16,930 --> 00:22:19,810 But what else in Second Timothy, chapter 2 and verse two? 391 00:22:21,170 --> 00:22:23,690 And the things that you have heard from me among many 392 00:22:23,690 --> 00:22:27,210 witnesses, commit these to faithful men. 393 00:22:27,210 --> 00:22:31,410 That's number one. OK, if a person's going to teach 394 00:22:31,410 --> 00:22:34,050 them God's word number one, they have to be a faithful man. 395 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,120 And you know what also goes hand in hand with this? 396 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,480 How about reputation? And how about influence? 397 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:43,960 I got to tell you something, folks. 398 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,200 You are very kindly listening to me right now. 399 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:52,520 But if my example in my reputation because of choices 400 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:56,480 that I have made in my life have damaged my influence, you're not 401 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,320 listening to me. Nobody listens to people that 402 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,160 they don't have any kind of respect for because of the life 403 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,280 or the example that they live. So the number one thing we have 404 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,040 to do is we have to be a faithful man. 405 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:09,760 And that also comes with reputation. 406 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:14,360 But remember this, what Wood said is the greater the area of 407 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:16,080 leadership, the greater responsibility. 408 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:18,640 Let's look at the greatest responsibility of all, and that 409 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,480 is the highest form of leadership in the church, and 410 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,880 that is elders. What does the Bible say about 411 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,480 elders in that regard? In Sectivity 2 and verse 24. 412 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,040 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all 413 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:39,360 men able to teach the king. James says apt to teach and app 414 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:44,360 doesn't mean willing, it means able, which means skillful. 415 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,360 I got to have some skill in doing that. 416 00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:50,800 I got to be able to do that. Number one. 417 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,960 I got to be a faithful man that's prepared, that takes it 418 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,880 seriously, that it also is skillful in teaching, especially 419 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:59,560 if you're at the highest level of leadership. 420 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:01,480 And that's an elder. What about Titus chapter one and 421 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,920 verse 9, holding fast the faithful word as he has been 422 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:08,920 taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to notice 423 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,960 both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 424 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,880 That's what an elder must do, an awesome responsibility. 425 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:20,960 So what did Jesus say about this? 426 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,360 Though? He says this in Matthew 5 and 427 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:29,490 19, but whoever does and teaches them Jesus place is doing the 428 00:24:29,490 --> 00:24:33,330 law before teaching others. And I got to tell you, have you 429 00:24:33,330 --> 00:24:35,650 ever heard the saying you people say, you know, I'd rather see a 430 00:24:35,650 --> 00:24:37,690 sermon than hear a sermon anytime. 431 00:24:37,690 --> 00:24:42,730 It's really true and and truly, like I said about influence, you 432 00:24:42,730 --> 00:24:45,370 need to see it in my life before you're going to hear it from my 433 00:24:45,370 --> 00:24:49,010 mouth and accept what I'm saying or have any impact on you at 434 00:24:49,010 --> 00:24:49,570 all. You know that. 435 00:24:49,570 --> 00:24:53,660 Everybody knows that. OK, the point is is Jesus places 436 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:59,020 the importance of putting the law in yourself first before or 437 00:24:59,020 --> 00:25:02,700 the commands in yourself first before being qualified to pass 438 00:25:02,700 --> 00:25:05,580 it on. Jesus condemned the scribes and 439 00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:07,540 the Pharisees for neglecting this process. 440 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:09,900 Notice what he said in Matthew 23 and three. 441 00:25:10,220 --> 00:25:14,180 Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe that observe and 442 00:25:14,180 --> 00:25:16,500 do but do not according to their works. 443 00:25:16,660 --> 00:25:19,920 For they say and do not. And I got to tell you, not 444 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,840 everything about the Pharisees was bad. 445 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,640 We know all the negative things about the Pharisees and all 446 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,040 that. But there was some one very 447 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,480 positive thing. The Pharisees understood the 448 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,120 law. They knew it inside and out. 449 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,960 So Jesus says in this scathing sermon against scribes and 450 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:40,520 Pharisees in Matthew 23 he was saying what they say. 451 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:45,920 Do it, but don't do what they do because they say and they do 452 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,710 not. They live truly a hypocritical, 453 00:25:49,790 --> 00:25:53,030 hypocritical life. You got to put it in yourself 454 00:25:53,030 --> 00:25:55,830 first. Then Jesus says that those who 455 00:25:55,830 --> 00:25:58,870 kept God's commands and teaches them are like these. 456 00:25:59,910 --> 00:26:03,390 What an incredible statement. He shall be called great in the 457 00:26:03,390 --> 00:26:05,470 Kingdom of heaven. Now remember this. 458 00:26:05,910 --> 00:26:08,430 I don't believe for one minute that there's degrees of 459 00:26:08,430 --> 00:26:11,190 punishment, and I don't believe for one minute that there's 460 00:26:11,190 --> 00:26:14,300 degrees of reward. We've already established what 461 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:16,420 does it mean to be least in the Kingdom of heaven. 462 00:26:16,540 --> 00:26:20,100 It means to not be acceptable or accepted in God's sight. 463 00:26:20,620 --> 00:26:22,340 So the flip side of that is this. 464 00:26:22,780 --> 00:26:25,780 Those that do keep God's commands and teaches people to 465 00:26:25,780 --> 00:26:28,260 do the same are great in the Kingdom of heaven. 466 00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:31,980 That phrase simply means this. You're acceptable to God. 467 00:26:35,020 --> 00:26:39,540 You're acceptable to God. Now I got to tell you about 468 00:26:39,540 --> 00:26:41,860 obedience for just a moment. I know obedience is a word that 469 00:26:41,860 --> 00:26:44,760 people don't like. It's really true. 470 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:46,200 I don't know what the world's wrong with obedience. 471 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,160 I don't understand why people have a problem with obedience. 472 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,360 If somebody makes the willful choice to submit and obey 473 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:56,760 something, that is an act of strength. 474 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:00,520 That's not an act of weakness. That is an act of courage and 475 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:01,680 strength. That's wonderful. 476 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:05,560 And when it comes to submitting and obeying God, that is an act 477 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,660 of strength. A great example of people that 478 00:27:08,660 --> 00:27:11,820 do that are Christians that submit to the will of God and 479 00:27:11,820 --> 00:27:13,860 live their life according. That's a wonderful thing. 480 00:27:15,580 --> 00:27:17,740 Obedience is part of our Christian life. 481 00:27:17,780 --> 00:27:20,460 And you can't be saved without obedience to God, you just 482 00:27:20,460 --> 00:27:22,460 can't. Now I know this, by the way. 483 00:27:22,900 --> 00:27:28,380 I know this through God's grace. By the blood of Jesus, we are 484 00:27:28,380 --> 00:27:32,260 forgiven and we are aided and we are helped when we mess up. 485 00:27:32,460 --> 00:27:35,450 That's true. But that doesn't remove 486 00:27:35,490 --> 00:27:38,450 obedience in our life. It takes full obedience. 487 00:27:38,770 --> 00:27:41,210 Then he says this. He's already said this. 488 00:27:41,210 --> 00:27:43,570 Now about the law. He said this about the 489 00:27:43,570 --> 00:27:45,850 commandments. And now he's going to talk about 490 00:27:45,890 --> 00:27:49,090 this, about righteousness. In Matthew chapter 5 and verse 491 00:27:49,090 --> 00:27:54,570 20, he says this. For I say to you that unless 492 00:27:54,570 --> 00:27:58,330 your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and 493 00:27:58,330 --> 00:28:02,330 Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven. 494 00:28:02,370 --> 00:28:05,620 OK. You know, I I just imagine this 495 00:28:05,620 --> 00:28:08,660 statement undoubtedly shocked the audience Jesus was talking 496 00:28:08,660 --> 00:28:09,340 about. You know why? 497 00:28:10,020 --> 00:28:12,220 Because the scribes and the Pharisees were known as the most 498 00:28:12,220 --> 00:28:15,020 pious, most religious people in the world. 499 00:28:16,980 --> 00:28:19,660 And when people looked at them, they go, oh, they're righteous. 500 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:22,500 How about the Pharisees that broaden their Philactories, 501 00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:23,860 those little pouches of scripture? 502 00:28:23,860 --> 00:28:25,660 And people would look at, oh, look at them, oh man, look at 503 00:28:25,660 --> 00:28:28,580 them, look at them. Oh, they're righteous. 504 00:28:28,580 --> 00:28:31,980 They're pious. They took the even the command 505 00:28:31,980 --> 00:28:36,500 of the tithing law even to the minute aspect of even using it 506 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:38,860 toward kitchen spices. People would look at them. 507 00:28:38,860 --> 00:28:40,020 Oh, they're pies. They're religious, they're 508 00:28:40,020 --> 00:28:43,980 wonderful. And Jesus in the sermon says, 509 00:28:43,980 --> 00:28:47,580 unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the 510 00:28:47,580 --> 00:28:52,740 scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of 511 00:28:52,740 --> 00:28:54,100 heaven. Okay. 512 00:28:54,340 --> 00:28:57,060 What was the problem with the righteousness of the scribes and 513 00:28:57,060 --> 00:29:00,260 the Pharisees? They observed the law in minute 514 00:29:00,260 --> 00:29:04,740 detail, but they never applied it to their own heart. 515 00:29:06,140 --> 00:29:08,380 They never applied it to themselves. 516 00:29:09,420 --> 00:29:13,660 It never changed them at all. They were interested in external 517 00:29:13,660 --> 00:29:17,340 purity only, rather than inward righteousness. 518 00:29:18,060 --> 00:29:22,500 And Jesus openly criticizes such hypocrisy and demands more from 519 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:25,660 his followers. Jesus says this at the end of 520 00:29:25,660 --> 00:29:27,980 this verse. He says if that's not the case, 521 00:29:27,980 --> 00:29:30,140 you will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven. 522 00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:31,340 You know, I'm going to tell you something. 523 00:29:33,180 --> 00:29:37,500 Please don't misunderstand me. You will never in your life 524 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:39,740 reach a level of perfection. No, you will not. 525 00:29:40,740 --> 00:29:42,700 I preach on this. You've heard my sermon about 526 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:45,540 transformation. Transformation is not a 527 00:29:45,540 --> 00:29:48,700 destination. Transformation is an upward 528 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:54,040 progress. It is a direction, and in your 529 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,720 life you will never be perfect. The point is this. 530 00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,640 You have to continue to try. You have to continue to work at 531 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,680 it. So the Lord is not asking for 532 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,440 perfection that you will never achieve. 533 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,240 He's not saying that. He's saying live an obedient 534 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,160 life with obedient faith and be transformed on the inside. 535 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:17,040 Change in here and it'll manifest itself with right doing 536 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:20,120 on the outside. And by the way, that's what 537 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,420 godliness really is. Godliness is not perfection. 538 00:30:23,420 --> 00:30:26,780 Godliness is a practical awareness of God in every aspect 539 00:30:26,780 --> 00:30:28,740 of your life. And when that's the case, guess 540 00:30:28,740 --> 00:30:30,540 what? It'll manifest itself in 541 00:30:30,540 --> 00:30:32,660 righteousness or right doing on the outside. 542 00:30:33,620 --> 00:30:35,500 What you were saying is it doesn't matter what you do on 543 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:38,540 the outside, which does matter, but it doesn't matter what you 544 00:30:38,540 --> 00:30:41,620 on the outside if you only have it on the outside and it's not 545 00:30:41,620 --> 00:30:43,980 really you on the inside. That's what he was saying when 546 00:30:43,980 --> 00:30:48,180 he said your righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the 547 00:30:48,180 --> 00:30:51,500 scribes and Pharisees. In order to make heaven, we have 548 00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:52,620 to be pure. On the outside. 549 00:30:53,220 --> 00:30:56,020 It's righteousness that depends on personal obedience to the 550 00:30:56,020 --> 00:30:58,340 faith. Now I'm going to say this too, 551 00:30:59,260 --> 00:31:01,700 and I think everybody here has heard somebody say this. 552 00:31:01,700 --> 00:31:07,300 If you ever heard somebody say, I'm not really a religious 553 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:14,300 person, I don't follow anything. I I'm not really into organized 554 00:31:14,300 --> 00:31:15,340 religion at all. I don't. 555 00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:20,850 I don't go to church, but I really love God and I really 556 00:31:20,850 --> 00:31:24,330 love Jesus. And I really believe that I have 557 00:31:24,330 --> 00:31:29,730 a relationship with him. But in order to love Jesus, 558 00:31:31,370 --> 00:31:36,770 Jesus said this. He said if you love me, keep my 559 00:31:36,770 --> 00:31:40,210 commandments. That's the demonstration of your 560 00:31:40,210 --> 00:31:41,810 love. So you can say that I really 561 00:31:41,810 --> 00:31:44,730 love Jesus, but it has to manifest itself in what? 562 00:31:44,970 --> 00:31:47,130 Keeping his commandments. What else did Jesus say? 563 00:31:48,020 --> 00:31:51,580 And verses 23 and 24, the same chapter he says, this Jesus 564 00:31:51,580 --> 00:31:55,860 answered and said to him, if anyone loves me, he will keep my 565 00:31:55,860 --> 00:31:59,460 word, and my Father will love him, and he will come to him and 566 00:31:59,460 --> 00:32:02,860 make our home with him. He who does not love me does not 567 00:32:02,860 --> 00:32:07,820 keep my words, and the word which you hear is not mine, but 568 00:32:07,820 --> 00:32:11,220 the fathers who sent me. That's the point. 569 00:32:13,180 --> 00:32:16,660 We have to keep the commandments of God in our Life. 570 00:32:17,060 --> 00:32:22,420 OK, in conclusion, today, what's the point of the sermon on the 571 00:32:22,420 --> 00:32:24,620 mountain so far? Here it is. 572 00:32:25,380 --> 00:32:29,260 And remember, these things build on each other #1 If you want the 573 00:32:29,260 --> 00:32:31,580 citizen requirements and the Kingdom it's in the beatitudes. 574 00:32:31,580 --> 00:32:32,780 You want to go to heaven. There they are. 575 00:32:33,820 --> 00:32:36,020 Once you have the proper relationship that you have with 576 00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:38,980 God and Jesus Christ, that leads to #2, and that's our 577 00:32:38,980 --> 00:32:41,260 responsibility. And Jesus says you are the salt 578 00:32:41,260 --> 00:32:42,340 of the earth and the light of the world. 579 00:32:43,420 --> 00:32:47,300 But now it's righteousness, expectations. 580 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,680 This is what the Lord requires. What is that? 581 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,880 It's very simple. What does God expect for you? 582 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,560 Here it is. Keep the commandments, keep His 583 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:59,360 word, and be righteous not only on the outside, but be righteous 584 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:03,720 first on the inside. That's what God wants from you 585 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,960 and for you in your life. And your whole life is about 586 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,520 obedience. And you prove your love to Him 587 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,200 by how you obey. You know, the first thing that a 588 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,280 person has to obey to be saved is the gospel. 589 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:18,760 You know, it's amazing about the gospel. 590 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:24,280 The gospel is the good news. It's the good news of the death, 591 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,640 burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 592 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,200 So when the Bible talks about obeying the gospel, how do you 593 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,520 obey A historic event like the gospel? 594 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:36,440 Very simple. You obey the gospel by following 595 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,200 what the gospel said. How do you do that? 596 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:40,480 That's the invitation. That's before us all Today. 597 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,560 The first thing you got to do is hear the word of God. 598 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:45,800 This is the plan of salvation, hearing the word of God. 599 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,000 Romans 10/17. So that faith comes by hearing 600 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:53,520 and hearing by the word of God. Upon hearing the word of God, 601 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:57,520 you have a choice. Hebrews 11 and six says we have 602 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,240 to believe with all of our heart, but without faith it's 603 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:03,160 impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must 604 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,440 believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who 605 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:09,320 diligently seek him. And by the way, when Jesus said 606 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:13,760 in Mark 1616, he who believes and is baptized will be saved, 607 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,239 but he who does not believe will be condemned. 608 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,920 That word belief means having the force to obey. 609 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,360 So in other words, not just believe that there is a God and 610 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:22,880 his Son. Jesus died for my sins. 611 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:27,199 It's this Believing with all my heart has the force to obey. 612 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:28,760 I believe in Jesus, so I'm going to obey him. 613 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,120 What else He said. He said I got to change my life. 614 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:35,000 I got to repent of my sins. Act 17 and 30. 615 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:39,070 Truly these times of ignorance, God overlooked, but now commands 616 00:34:39,150 --> 00:34:43,389 all men everywhere to repent. What else did the Bible say 617 00:34:43,389 --> 00:34:46,790 about what we must do? We got to confess Jesus Christ 618 00:34:46,790 --> 00:34:48,870 as the Son of God. Acts 8 and 37. 619 00:34:49,350 --> 00:34:51,469 Then Phillips said, if you believe with all your heart, you 620 00:34:51,469 --> 00:34:53,150 may. And he answered and said, I 621 00:34:53,150 --> 00:34:55,830 believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 622 00:34:56,110 --> 00:34:59,670 These are steps that lead toward the point of salvation, but the 623 00:34:59,670 --> 00:35:03,950 point of salvation is this to be baptized for the remission of 624 00:35:03,950 --> 00:35:05,590 sins. Mark 1616. 625 00:35:06,010 --> 00:35:09,370 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does 626 00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:13,930 not believe will be condemned. It's about a life of obedience. 627 00:35:13,930 --> 00:35:16,090 First thing you got to do to have the blood of Jesus is obey 628 00:35:16,090 --> 00:35:17,770 the gospel. If you've never taken those 629 00:35:17,770 --> 00:35:19,490 steps of obedience, you can do that today. 630 00:35:19,490 --> 00:35:23,450 We'd love to assist you in that. Be baptized into Jesus Christ 631 00:35:23,450 --> 00:35:27,570 for the remission of sins and be saved and added to the Church 632 00:35:28,050 --> 00:35:31,610 that Jesus died to purchase. Maybe you've taken those steps 633 00:35:31,610 --> 00:35:33,290 of obedience. Maybe there are things in your 634 00:35:33,290 --> 00:35:35,210 life that are not what they should be. 635 00:35:35,210 --> 00:35:37,530 Maybe you've drifted away. Maybe you've left. 636 00:35:37,530 --> 00:35:40,610 What a great time to come back. Repent of those things. 637 00:35:40,610 --> 00:35:42,770 Confess those things. We'll pray with you and for you, 638 00:35:42,770 --> 00:35:44,250 and God will forgive and restore. 639 00:35:44,610 --> 00:35:47,490 If you want to be to class, come forward while we stand and while 640 00:35:47,490 --> 00:35:49,970 we sing. We thank you. 641 00:35:49,970 --> 00:35:53,770 For listening to our podcast put on by the Church of Christ at 642 00:35:53,770 --> 00:35:59,010 2215 Plans Rd. in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 643 00:35:59,010 --> 00:36:01,600 information. Or you would like to receive a 644 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,040 free Bible correspondence course by mail? 645 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:10,120 Please e-mail us at info@churchofchristbakersfield.com. 646 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:16,040 Our service times are Sundays at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM and 647 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:20,480 Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Please make plans to join us. 648 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,160 We would love for you to be our honored guest.