John D. McArthur, Jr.

Several years ago, I noticed a pattern developing in my preaching. Now, back in Bible College I learned the danger of getting "on my hobby horse" and preaching the same thing over and over again so I had always strived to preach on a variety of topics from the Bible. But in examining my files, I discovered that I have preached more sermons from the Gospel of Matthew than from any other book of the Bible. And most of those sermons (44 and counting) were from chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount.

There is something about this discourse of Jesus; the longest continual message recorded that our Savior spoke, that keeps me coming back. Maybe it's the simplicity, maybe it's the vivid illustrations, or maybe it's the practical nature of the message. Whatever it is, I refer to it and prepare almost all my other sermons in light of the words of Jesus found in those three chapters.

I have memorized the words and presented the whole sermon as a dramatic reading, I have chopped it up and preached it in long and short series, and I have presented the material for Bible study and Sunday School classes. And through it all, the message remains fresh and timely. No matter how often I have preached the words, the sermon is exciting and seems to speak to audiences as if Jesus preached the message just yesterday. I suppose that really should be no surprise.

This book is not designed to be an in-depth analysis of the Sermon on the Mount, even though there is a bibliography at the end. And this book is not designed to simply be a collection of sermons, although all the chapters are based on sermons I preached. My hope for this book is that it will be an encouragement to you - a pinch of salt for your soul. It is exciting to think that the words Jesus preached almost 2,000 years ago still apply to us today and can still change our lives. Again, this should really be no surprise. After all, aren't we told that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)?

For years, I believed a writer prepared his craft alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. The only way I could have preached and written this message was through the support of my family, especially my wife Holly, who has always been my sounding board and counselor for my sermons. Everyone at church could comment on how good my message was but the only voice I listen to is that of Holly. She constantly has encouraged and praised my efforts when they hit the mark and discreetly changed the subject if my sermon was less than my best effort. As a preacher, a helpmate like Holly is more valuable than all the gold in the world.

I would also like to thank the good people at the churches I have served who listened to my constant preaching from Matthew. The people at the Pomeroy (Ohio) Church of Christ, the Chestnut St. Church of Christ in Hoopeston, Illinois, the Windsor Rd. Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois, and the Erlanger (Kentucky) Church of Christ have all not only endured these messages in various forms but allowed me the freedom to develop my style and preach the Word.

Above all else, I need to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That almost seems trite. It is an overused statement that means little to some athletes and actors and a required vocalization by religious people. But as expected and banal as it may appear, it is still very much the truth. Above anything and everything else my desire, and I pray that it will be your desire as well, is to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." And be a pinch of salt to the world.

I.

Matthew 5:3-12

What does it mean to be a Christian? How is our lifestyle different from the rest of the world?

There was a time, in the not so distant past, when most people lived what we would call a "Christian Lifestyle". On Sunday, most businesses were closed and it was expected that people would be in church. Bad language and off-color jokes were regulated to the locker rooms, and then only in whispers in the corner. Today, we hardly raise our eyebrows at the innuendo and filth we see constantly on TV Once upon a time there was a clear-cut sense of right and wrong. Today, everything is relative or at least excusable and understandable.

As a Christian in this last decade of the century, we have at least 3 options available to us:

1.) We can bury our heads in the sand and pretend everything is OK. The world would prefer we did this. If we hide our lights under a bushel, no one will know we are here and the power of the Gospel will be nothing. We would be no more than an out-dated, ineffective and worthless institution.

2.) We could, for a lack of a better term, raise a stink. Petitioning, picketing and protesting all in the name of Christ. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe Christians should take a stand. We have to. But too often attacking the world misses the sinner's real need and usually makes them angry, canceling any hope of evangelism. This problem is not new to the 20th century however. Jesus called it "throwing your pearls to pigs". Remember what he said would happen? They trampled the pearls under their feet and turned and tore them to pieces.

3) We could "let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." This is what the world is waiting for. Not another program, not another sermon, but a lifestyle that has meaning. A lifestyle worth living. And as Christians we are called not to be like slick tele-evangelists or like holier-than-thou, goody two-shoes. We are to let our life shine through the darkness of our world.

There is a moth that is attracted to light and when it sees light its wing will flutter towards the light. Because of this, if the moth sees a lit candle out of one eye, one wing will begin fluttering uncontrollably and the moth, trapped by the light, will circle the illumination in ever decreasing circles until it is consumed by the fire. As a pinch of salt to the world, we need to be so absorbed by the light of Christ that he consumes us.

Jesus began his longest recorded discourse with a series of statements. We call them the Beatitudes. It simply means the "blessed are's" or the "happy are's" because that is how each statement begins.

Let us look carefully at what Jesus says here and discover a total lifestyle. A lifestyle is a pinch of salt to a world that so desperately needs flavoring.

Matthew 5:3-12:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because

of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

How to be a pinch of salt is not something new we have to figure out. Jesus told us how to do it almost 2,000 years ago. How to be a pinch of salt involves having the right attitude, righteous living and results. The 3 R's.

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

The 1980's were marked by the accumulation of money and material possessions by many. Movies such as Wall Street, phrases such as "corporate takeover" and people such as Ivan Boesky and Donald Trump defined the decade. Now, in the 1990s, the world is beginning to realize money isn't everything. It still is and will continue to be of primary importance to the world. There will be no major economic attitude adjustment. But there is sense that there must be something more to life.

The obvious question is, how can we be happy if we are poor. The answer is, happiness is not based on material goods and riches but upon our priorities.

Look at Matthew 6:19-21:

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

Money is not the solution. And Jesus is not saying we cannot or should not have money. He is saying, regardless of your economic and social status, get your priorities straight.

After all, Jesus has promised we will be taken care of. Matthew 6:33 tells us to, "...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things" that is food, money, clothes and every other material thing we need, "will be given to you as well."

We also have the Right Mind when we learn how to mourn (verse 4). To mourn here is an action. We realize something is wrong and repent. This is not the idea of having a low or bad self-image, or of doubting your worth. It is the idea of being honest with yourself. As John writes in 1 John 1:8, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

Jesus tells us if we recognize our sin and are truly sorry, we will be comforted. 1 John 1:9 also reminds us of this: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

So, having the right mind involves understanding our shortcomings.

The next beatitude goes along with this one and further defines what it means to have a right mind.

This was a familiar saying to the Jews. When Jesus said, "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," he was quoting Psalm 37:11.

Being meek does not mean being weak. Rather, the idea is to quietly submit to God. Later in this sermon, Jesus asserts (6:24), "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

Our action and attitude toward others then play out our submission to God. Jesus elaborates on this point in Matthew 5:38-42:

You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Then, when we practice these first three attributes of a right mind (seeking something beyond money, understanding our shortcomings, and submitting to the needs of others) the fourth comes naturally: stubbornly seeking God's favor. Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

When we seek something beyond material wealth, when we understand we are not and never will be perfect and when we quietly submit to God our whole being. We will desire nothing more than to be filled with the things of God. Jesus promised us this when he talked about asking, seeking and knocking in Matthew 7:7.

The idea here is to be persistent. Something similar to a child when she constantly asks for something. My dad used to say I had a one-track mind. Jesus calls us to have one track minds. Sometimes a child continually asking for something wears us down and we finally say OK. We do not wear down God but he listens to our persistence. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 should be a story of comfort and encouragement to us when we seek the Lord's blessing. He will hear our persistent prayers!

Having the right mind is the starting point to being a pinch of salt in the world. Following those principles alone would in itself revolutionize your life, your church and your community. But Jesus challenges us to go one step further.

Matthew 5:7 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

These next three beatitudes all deal with our personalities. How we act and react to people and events around us.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." We call this verse today the "Golden Rule". Most of us have probably heard some version of this verse since we were children. Even by non-Christian or worldly standards, to live by this statement would make you a good person. In our local grade school, a poster hangs in the main hall reminding the students, "Treat others as you want them to treat you." But how often do we even follow this simple rule?

You see, it's one thing to have the right mind. To have a spiritual or religious perspective of life. But where Christian living makes a difference to the world, where our lifestyle gives praise to God and is a witness to the world is in the marketplace. Examples of righteous living involve our action in the world, it involves how we live at home, school, work and play.

An interesting concept Jesus develops in this sermon is God will forgive you in the same way you forgive others. See Matthew 6:14,15. That is pretty scary isn't it? Does it change how you deal with others?

The second example of righteous living is found in Matthew 5:8, "purity."

Jumping ahead to the conclusion of this discourse by Jesus we find some very disturbing words. Just because we know who Jesus is and just because we have been busy doing things for God, doesn't mean we will be recognized or acknowledged by him. Here is something that flies in the face of conventional wisdom about the church: the true Christian isn't necessarily someone who draws great crowds or has a successful program. The true Christian keeps himself pure. Matthew 7:20 - "By their fruits you will recognize them."

The third example of Righteous Living is in our relationships according to Matthew 5:9. We are to be peacemakers, not troublemakers.

James 2:17 tells us, "faith without works is dead." If we have perfect theology and sound doctrine but have trouble with our relationships, we are still missing the point. A religion that sacrifices friendships, martial relations, and families in the name of service to God, is not the kind of religion Jesus taught.

Matthew 5:23 and 24 clearly teaches us:

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

This is not always easy. How many families have become dysfunctional, how many marriages destroyed and how many friendships denied because we would rather be right than righteous? Jesus asks, how can we be pure and merciful without it?

So far, I hope we can agree that all I have said is right. We might not always measure up but, in principle at least, I pray we can all agree that having the right mind and practicing righteous living is important not only for the 21st century but for any time, any century, any where.

The third R however, is a lot more difficult. The first two can be discussed at length in theory. The third R is not an abstract concept, however, the third R is an action:

Matthew 5:10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I wish I could say that if you followed the principles of having a right mind and righteous living all would be wonderful. I wish I could say that when you practice those principles people would be glad to see you and everyone would want to become a Christian. Unfortunately, Jesus taught us just the opposite is often true.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3 that many in the world want nothing more than to have their ears tickled or to hear nice things that make them feel good. The unwritten warning is that when those people do not hear what they want to hear they will get angry.

We are the light of the world but very often the world doesn't want to see the light. And even in a free society where religious freedom is understood, some will not stand to hear the truth. Persecution is a promise we have as Christians just as much as heaven and all the other good things.

Persecution is more however than being tortured or put in prison or killed. Probably not too many of us have ever experienced anything at all like that. When we read of the great martyrs throughout history we almost have a detached sense about it. Those are people far, far away who lived a long, long time ago.

We need to understand two things about persecution. First, it happens all the time, even today, though it is seldom reported on the news unless there is a political connection with it like the missionaries killed several years ago in El Salvador. But there are Christians in South America today that are killed or tortured by extremist groups. Christianity is not allowed to be practiced or spread in China and in many Moslem controlled countries Christians are the persecuted minority.

However, in America, those things fail to concern or affect us on a direct or regular basis. There is another type of persecution we face daily and that is the second thing for us to understand about persecution. To be laughed at, ignored, insulted, sneered at and made fun of is also persecution. Jesus addresses that in Matthew 5:11 when he said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Jesus is talking to us here, not the great martyrs.

We need to understand clearly, we all face this kind of persecution daily. If you don't think so, get the opinion of a non-Christian about Christianity. Read the papers or watch TV and see that Christianity at best is quaint and ineffective but is usually thought to be crooked and have false motives. What does the world think of when they think of a Christian? If you don't know you had better wake up and enter the 21st century. It is not a very pretty picture.

But there is hope. Matthew 5:12, "Rejoice and be glad," Jesus said. Kind of a strange directive considering his warning about persecution, isn't it? Jesus explains, "Because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Can our slight embarrassments or being teased compare to being thrown to the lions or being bound by chains? Jesus seems to think that everything from a condescending look to the death penalty is persecution and the legitimate result of our lifestyle.

The 3 R's for being a pinch of salt in the world today are: Having the Right Mind, Righteous Living and Results. They are the challenge for us as we begin a new century.

However, we cannot do any of this by ourselves. We will fail. When we are honest with ourselves, we know we have and will mess up. The beatitudes were meant to be used to display a whole lifestyle. We cannot pick and choose those that are easy for us and ignore the rest. When we study the expectations God has for us and compare that with our failures and weakness, we understand clearly what the writer meant when he wrote, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound the saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see."

II.

Infiltrating the World

Matthew 5:13-16

I never get tired of taking a guided tour through a cave. I've visited caves in Ohio, Tennessee, and, of course, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.

Sometimes on these tours, the guide will gather everyone around and turn off all the lights. Experiencing total and complete darkness is very strange and disorienting. You can put your hand right in front of your face and not see it. One time, in this complete darkness, I had a digital watch with a display light. It was a very small light that could not be seen in the daylight. I pressed the button turning on the light and it seemed as if the light was blinding. Everyone in the tour group noticed it and it seemed as if that light filled the whole cave.

Jesus referred to those who were lost as being in darkness. Sinclair Ferguson wrote:

The problem with living in darkness is the effect it has on one's ability to see clearly and to and to distinguish one object from another. A person loses direction and becomes disoriented...men have lost their sense of moral bearings and are blind to the terrible consequences. We call evil good. The very people who campaign against nuclear armaments because they are concerned for the future of humanity are often those who are pro-abortion, and thus deny the future to millions of embryonic members of humanity. What logic is this? What enlightenment takes modern man back to practices that were abominated in what he is pleased to call the Dark Ages?

Living in darkness is a problem. We are so blind we don't even know how dark it is. Jesus gives us the solution to our confusion and darkness in Matthew 5:13-16:

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

It is interesting to note that Jesus is not talking to the important people of the world in this sermon. He is not addressing the "movers and shakers" of Israel. He is teaching the everyday, common man and woman.

When we look around at all the sin and evil in this corrupt world, it would be easy for us to say, "What can I do? I'm not that important." If we live in a small town or attend a small church that opinion is magnified. "We are so little, so unimportant. How can we can change the world?"

Just as my digital watch cut through the darkness of that black cave, we are to cut through the blackness of our world. Our little lives can shine just as brightly as my watch in our dark, sin-sick world, if we would just let it.

The teaching of Christ here in Matthew 5:13-16 is not hard to understand. And if we live by it, we can infiltrate our world with the light of Christ.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

As Christians, we are to be like salt and permeate the world around us. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls this "the principle of cellular infiltration. Just a little salt can affect the great mass."

Being the salt of the earth is not something that someone else does. It is not even something we do as a group or as a church. Being salt is what each of us as individuals do.

Mr. Ferguson explained it this way,

The mood of the verb (you are) is indicative (a statement of faith), not imperative (a command to be something). Jesus is not urging his disciples to become something they are not; he is telling them what they are as kingdom people.

Cellular infiltration then is how we, by our lifestyles, infiltrate, or enter into, our little corner of the world.

Verse 13 tells us at least two things. First, the verse, by implication, describes the condition of the world. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "It clearly implies rottenness in the earth; it implies a tendency to pollution and to becoming foul and offensive."

Let us not hide our heads in the sand on this point and pretend everything is ok. The world is rotten. As Paul clearly describes it in Romans 1:28-31:

...he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Salt can serve at least two functions. It can be used to make something taste better or it can be used as a preservative. Whichever way you want to define or use salt is proper but for the salt to be salt, it must be used. And that is the second thing verse 13 tells us - how we are to live.

I came across the following explanation of what it means to be salt in an old commentary and at first I thought it was oversimplified. I thought it was naive and maybe not completely accurate. So I passed it over as being an idiosyncrasy of the author of the book. I assumed he was a little "out of touch" with the world today. But then I came across the same explanation of verse 13 in a recent commentary. It got me thinking: maybe there is something to what they are trying to say.

Both authors insisted that when a Christian enters a room his presence has an immediate effect. He doesn't have to say a word, but people begin to modify their language. He, in other words, is already acting like salt. He is already controlling the tendency to pollution.

When I began in ministry, it irked me when people would change their conversation in my presence. I felt uncomfortable when others acted different when they knew "the preacher" was there. I was actually insulted that they might have thought I did not know various cuss words or understood their innuendo and lifestyle.

I found myself proud of statements like, "You don't look (or act) like a preacher." I enjoyed going places where no one knew who I was or what my job was because they acted more "natural." Today I see that as the wrong attitude on my part. The reality was, and is, my presence (and the presence of all Christians) should keep others minds out of the gutter. Maybe it can keep others from sinning? Could it be that is what we are to be doing as salt?

If a poll was taken among your friends and co-workers, how many of them would know you are a Christian? Being salt means our presence makes a difference. This does not mean we are to be obnoxious or is it a command to spend all our time changing laws or protesting evil. It does mean there is a consistency in our lives.

My parents demonstrated this consistency. The way they are on Sunday morning is the way they are on Monday. They do not have to hide magazines or books or liquor if the preacher drops by. They did not have to change their speech from Sunday School to public school.

If salt is not salty, it is not good for anything. We infiltrate the world not by mass rallies or convincing arguments but by cellular infiltration: filling our lives with the salt God gives us.

Matthew 5:14 and 15: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

Salt tells us what we are. Light tells us what we do. Here is the scary part about what Jesus says: It is up to us to guide people to the light. Lloyd-Jones said, "Our Lord not only pronounces that the world is in a state of darkness, he goes so far as to say that nobody but a Christian can give any helpful advice, knowledge or instruction with respect to (finding the light)."

Cellular infiltration, where we individually make a difference because of how we live, can only go so far. Being salt gets people's attention. Once we have their attention, we must reach their minds. This is done by cranial infiltration.

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul talks about the "foolishness of preaching." By foolish, he does not mean silly but different. The church stands in contrast to the world. There is no reason to be ashamed of our difference. We are light in a dark world.

A popular lie today is that we must make the church attractive to non-Christians. We must make it slick and appealing. We must never say or do anything that might offend or confuse the visitor. Now, it is true that we are to "give of our best to the Master" and we must be involved with programming to reach to unbeliever our first and only obligation in worship is to please God. We must never do anything that hides, dims or extinguishes the light of the gospel.

What do people want when they come to church? A peppy song service? You can get better on the radio or from music videos. Do people want or need exciting programs? The world offers an endless variety of programs just as exciting if not more so. Do non-Christians come looking for good facilities? Better facilities can be found in most other clubs. What the world needs now, what the world is stumbling around in the dark looking for, what the world is dying to find is the true light.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, "The sole cause of the troubles of the world at this moment, from the personal to the international level, is nothing but man's estrangement from God."

The light is our only hope. This world will never change by enacting or enforcing censorship laws, or by protesting and picketing abortion centers, or by any other attempt to force people to abide by Christian values. The only thing that will make a difference is to show the light.

There was a man one time inspecting a mineshaft. As he wandered the endless maze of tunnels suddenly his light went out. Thrust into total darkness, he began to grope aimlessly for a way out. Fear and panic began to overtake him as he cut his head on low ceilings, bruised his knees on pieces of rock and coal jutting from the sides of the tunnel and continually banged into the unseen walls.

Finally, exhausted and bloodied, he fell to his knees and cried out, "I'm lost! I'm lost!"

Nearby, a miner heard the cry and realizing where he was, called back, "Don't move! You are near the edge. If you go on by yourself you will fall to your death. Look for my light, when you see it, come straight to it and you will be saved."

The miner could not say, "No thanks, I'll go this way." Once he saw the light, he had to obey it or die.

Verse 16: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Charles Spurgeon said,

I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk; but they do shine. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct, and it shall not fail to be illustrious.

Why do we let our light shine as Christians? Without being too simplistic, let me suggest we let our light shine because it is meant to be that way. Being a Christian means we have a light and that light must shine.

Consider this statement:

Now, in the past, commentators have spent a good deal of their time in defining what is meant by a "bushel," sometimes with amusing results. To me the important thing is that it covers the light, and it does not matter very much what it is as long as it does that. What our Lord is saying is that it is a ridiculous and contradictory procedure. The whole purpose of lighting a light is that it may give light.

Randy was a friend of mine in high school. We weren't real close friends but we had known each other since kindergarten. In high school, we were both in the marching band, school plays, and a couple of clubs. He was a good guy and we got along ok. But he was not a Christian and, to my shame, I never said anything to him about Jesus or church or Christianity.

After our senior year, we both went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. We lived in different dorms across campus and never saw each other. Then one night, at a Christian Campus House meeting, Randy appeared. Over the summer, he had become a Christian and was excited about his new found faith. Just before I left that evening, Randy pulled me aside and asked, "Why didn't you ever tell me about this?"

I could not answer him but I knew why. I hid my light under a bushel. It did not shine before anyone.

When we hide our light, it becomes useless and it will eventually go out. Romans 1:21 reminds us, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God not gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

How do we let our light shine? Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..."

Our infiltration of the world demands our complete immersion in living for Christ. The challenge is live let our light shine in a world that hates darkness.

It is easy to talk a good game but our job is to live Matthew 5:13-16. When I watch any sporting event it is easy for me to complain and criticize. I act as if I could do better. But, I suppose, if I could do better I would be on the field instead of the sidelines.

In our Christian lives, it is easy to criticize and complain about how others don't teach, preach, call or lead as well as they should. But the challenge Jesus gives us is not how are others doing but how are you doing? Jesus said, "You (and you alone) are the salt of the earth and the light of the world." Where is your salt supply and where is your lamp?

When we are honest, we know we are not very salty or bright by ourselves. We may try to be and may even fool many people. But, we have to admit we often fall short. Before the Sermon on the Mount began, Matthew recorded these words in chapter 4, verse 16: "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

The light we shine is not our own but it is the reflected light of Jesus. When we allow ourselves to be completely infiltrated with the light of Jesus, it will shine for all the world to see.

III.

Holier Than Thou

Matthew 5:17-20

I am drawn to the stories of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. My name, McArthur, means "son of Arthur" you know and the popular story in my family is that we are descended from that legendary king.

The most familiar version of the Arthur legend is the one popularized by the Broadway musical from the 1960s, "Camelot." Do you recall, in that musical, the knight Lancelot? Lancelot fulfilled the medieval theology of sinless living. It was believed that if someone could live without sin, they would have superior skills and could even perform miracles, just like Christ.

Lancelot was a weak saint in a powerfully sinful world. When he gives in to his lustful temptations and has an affair with the king's wife, he not only loses his power but the kingdom of Camelot collapses around him as well. Sin was too powerful even for the great knight Lancelot and his righteousness and holiness was marred.

In our world, the real world we struggle with day to day, we sometimes feel we are fighting a losing battle as well. Recently, the news reported that 1 out of 2 high school seniors have tried drugs. 20% of teens use cocaine regularly. And the age when children first experiment with illegal substances has lowered in the last several years to the point that it is not uncommon to see sixth graders addicted to drugs. And all of this in spite of years of "just saying `no!'" and costly drug awareness programs in our schools.

Every day we hear of murder, child abuse, corruption, adultery, and so much more. Attitudes, actions and language broadcast on network TV, in the afternoon, would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago.

But forget about what others are doing. We know that we all have messed up in our lives as well. Every one of us has something in our past, or maybe even our present, which we are ashamed of. None of us can really claim to be holy or righteous.

The world's way of dealing with sin or our lack of holiness or righteous living is to change the rules. If a woman doesn't want to have a baby, change the standard of what life is. If a majority of people use illegal drugs, make them legal. Call what is bad good. Make what is wrong right. And anyone who would dare have a set of rules and regulations that restrict a person's "free expression," is considered "backward and oppressive."

In the face of this total disregard for authority and rules, Jesus continues his sermon on the mount. Matthew 5:17-20:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

We are called to be a righteous people. Unfortunately, righteousness has become a confusing and often negative term. Being righteous has become synonymous with self-righteousness or of having a "holier-than-thou" attitude. And since none of us want to be accused of either of those things, we often go along with the crowd, keep quiet and try to hide any righteous attitude. Or worse, we realize we cannot be perfect so we give up. We don't even try to be righteous. But remember the words from the previous chapter of this book, "neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl."

To understand the rest of this message by Jesus, we need to first understand what righteousness is all about. Righteousness is expected of every Christian, righteousness is a balance between grace and works, and righteousness is more than skin deep.

Alexander Campbell was one of the early leaders of what is called the Restoration Movement that led to the development of the Church of Christ and Christian Church. Mr. Campbell despised the idea in church of a "clergy-laity" distinction. He considered it one of the biggest evils of the day. Alexander Campbell encouraged the "priest-hood of all believers" and tried to avoid titles or appearances that separated Christian leaders from the rest of the church.

Why was Mr. Campbell so upset? Because this religious distinction made the paid or professional clergy appear more righteous or holy than anyone else does. Somehow the preacher, because of his "special call," was more in touch with God and somehow he was more holy. The assumption is, by virtue of his office, he is better than the rest of us.

This attitude was even popular in Jesus' day. A well-known saying then was, "If only two people could go to heaven, one would be a Pharisee and the other a Teacher of the Law."

The problem with this way of thinking is righteousness becomes something only a chosen few can achieve. Therefore, why should I even try?

Jesus said in verse 19,

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This verse has wrongly been taken to mean that if we keep certain rules we will be holy. And we do try to regulate our spirituality by developing certain guidelines in regard to what we wear, where we go, what we eat and drink, what we say, and who we hang around with. The trouble with just following guidelines is we can become like the Pharisees who Jesus elsewhere called, "white-washed tombs." we can be very clean and beautiful on the outside but inside full of dead men's bones.

In Mark 10, we read the story of the rich young man who came to Jesus. He obviously wasn't satisfied with his life even though he claimed to have kept all the rules all his life. Jesus said he was still missing one thing. Verse 21: "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

That verse gives us at least three things to think about when we consider what it means to be righteous:

1.) Turn away from the world.

2.) Serve others.

3.) Seek God's kingdom first.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote,

The kingdom of God is concerned about the heart; it is not my external actions, but what I am inside that is important...What a man does with his own solitude is what ultimately counts. The things that are within, which we hide from the outside world because we are ashamed of them, those proclaim finally what we are.

Righteousness is something all of us as Christians are expected to have. Righteousness goes beyond just keeping the rules, even though Jesus never said do not keep the rules. Righteousness goes past our rule keeping and enters our heart.

John Newton said, "Ignorance of the nature and design of the law is at the bottom of most of our religious mistakes."

Jesus said,

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.

Those are two very disturbing verses that remind us of Romans 3:20, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

Sometimes we like the idea of salvation by faith only because it takes away all responsibility. We can live however we want to live because God will save us anyway. This has been a misunderstood belief in the church for centuries. If indeed the law shows us how sinful we are (which it does) and our only hope is Jesus (which it is) then forget the law and let his grace cover our mistakes. This theology makes God responsible for our salvation.

When our daughter, Candy, was a baby, she liked to go down the stairs in our house on her bottom. She had a nice, padded diaper on so it did not bother her to bounce down the steps.

Then one day, when she was a little older, she tried to go down the stairs in her favorite fashion only she was not wearing a diaper. When she hit bottom, she had a look of shock on her face. It wasn't very fun to bounce like that without adequate padding. She never went down the steps in that way again.

Sometimes we use grace as our padded diaper and bounce along with little or no regard to what we are doing. Romans 6:1 and 2 asks, "What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "Some say (faith) is all important, some say (works). The Bible teaches that both these views are wrong: It is faith showing itself by works that is the mark of a true Christian."

There is a certain balance that true righteousness has. Jesus is clearly teaching in this sermon that the only way to salvation is through him. Be he also reminds us he is abolishing the law. Now, the law, by itself, does not save us. But neither does faith only. A Biblical balance of both is what Jesus taught.

Cincinnati has a special brand of chili. It is a sweet tasting mixture that is very addictive. When you eat a three-way (chili, spaghetti and cheese) you are eating as well as any man on earth. Some have accused me of moving to the Cincinnati area solely to be near this unique cuisine.

But as much as I like Skyline chili, I also know I need other vegetables, meat and fruit in my diet. If I refused all other foods I would lack certain vitamins and minerals and I would end up sick because my diet was not balanced.

The same thing is true in our searching for righteousness. Righteousness is not found only in obedience to the law or in faith only. We must have a balance of works and faith to have a healthy outlook on holiness.

Matthew 5:20 - "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

This is the challenge Jesus gives us about righteousness. Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "Christians (do not live) morally loose lives. They hunger and thirst for righteousness, for a righteousness surpassing that of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law."

If you had a question in those days on how to live, you would ask a Pharisee or a Teacher of the Law. With around 248 regulations and 365 prohibitions on the books, it was best to depend on a "professional" to answer your questions about holiness.

After all, they were the experts. They were considered to be the most righteous people around. They had dedicated their lives and spent many long hours studying the law. The common, every day, ordinary citizen believed they could not even approach them in holiness and righteousness.

And then, here comes Jesus, who told the people that they not only have to be righteous but that their righteousness must be more than the most righteous people they knew! Now that's a challenge!

What Jesus is really getting at is living beyond just following the rules. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law tended to approach righteousness in four basic ways: First, righteousness was based on appearance. As long as they looked good, it really did not matter what they thought. However, Jesus condemns that idea in Luke 16:15.

Second, their righteousness was more ceremonial than moral. As long as you tithe, as long as you go to church, you are ok. But Matthew 6:1-18 has a few thoughts about that.

Third, their righteousness had loopholes. They forgot the point of the laws and tried to regulate actions instead of teaching the purpose. Jesus reminds us of the inconsistency of that in Mark 2:23-28.

Finally, their righteousness was self-centered. The condition of others was not important as long as you were ok. Jesus clearly taught the error of this in Luke 18:9-14.

The righteousness of the Pharisees was skin deep. Our righteousness must be real. In the book, "Kingdom Life in a Fallen World," we are told,

Jesus Christ not only justifies us by covering us in righteousness but he also sanctifies and transforms us by making us righteous. In other words, our righteousness really must surpass that of the Pharisees. If we are not more righteous than they are, we are not righteous at all.

By insisting our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law, Jesus is suggesting living a righteous life is what we really want.

My children hate to go to bed at night. When they were little, they had a set bedtime and refused to even think about going to their rooms before it was time no matter how tired they were.

Holly and I always knew when they were tired because they would start to act fussy. So, as punishment, we would send them to bed. They would argue that they weren't really tired but within five minutes of being sent to their rooms, they would fall asleep.

The girls needed sleep even though they denied it. So, trying to be good parents, we gave them what they really needed, not what they wanted. We really need righteousness. Our sinful nature tries to tell us that we do not need that. But we do.

Jesus cuts through all the excuses, all the justifications, and all our self-righteousness and point blank tells us we must be holy and righteous.

The hard part of this teaching is that righteous living has little to do with following certain laws and everything to do with our actions and attitude. Just living by the letter of the law does not mean we are righteous. Does a pig living in a hen house make it a chicken? No, and neither does following the rules make us righteous.

We want to be good. We want to be righteous. But sin has messed it up. No matter how hard we try, no matter how perfect we follow the rules, we will mess up. And that is where Jesus fits in.

Jesus is explaining what God wants from his children. Everything Jesus says here should cause red flags to go up. We can't live that perfect. Everything we are told to do in this passage, and in this whole sermon Jesus preached, is impossible if we try to do it ourselves. But everything we are told to do here is possible with God.

IV.

A Family Resemblance

Matthew 5:21-48

Who does J.D. look like? When I first saw my son hanging upside down by the doctor's hands, all wet and purple with curly red hair, I was reminded of my own newborn pictures. But as time went on, I noticed he looked like others in our families.

The shape of his head is a lot like his mother, Holly. His forehead is like my brother Dave and his cowlick like my brother Tim. His wrinkly expressions remind me of some of my cousins and his big, dark eyes match the McArthur style. Holly says his feet look like mine and that he walks just like me. She also says that he is a true McArthur: stubborn and short-tempered. He never stops talking and that reminds us of my brother Dan.

J.D. also looks a lot like his cousins Paul and Matthew on the Brooks side of the family and his mouth is shaped very much like his mother. J.D. is an interesting combination of both of our families. He has a family resemblance.

But the resemblance doesn't stop there. A couple of our friends have commented on how much he looks like his sisters even though all four girls are adopted.

In fact, the girls, although there is no biological relation to us, have always closely resembled us. One time, when they were in pre-school, Gypsy and Candy were playing with Holly's sister's little boy. Gypsy was three, Paul, Jr. was 2 and Candy was 1. A stranger passing by saw how much they all looked alike and asked if they were triplets!

All our children, either natural born or adopted, take on not only our physical traits but our personalities and attitudes as well. Sometimes, our children's personalities make us proud and sometimes their attitude is embarrassing. For good or bad, that's part of being in a family.

Jesus is talking in the Sermon on the Mount about Christian living. In chapter 5 of Matthew, beginning with verse 21 through verse 48, he gives six examples of how we take on a family resemblance.

In the previous chapter of this book, we looked at Matthew 5:20 that told us, "our acts of righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law." The Pharisees followed the law on the surface only. We are to go beyond that and follow the heart of the law. To do what the law means not just what it says. We are to take on the characteristics and personality that Jesus described in Matthew 5:21-48. We are to look like we are a part of the family. And we are to have a family resemblance.

Amy Grant summed up this idea in her song, "Father's Eyes":

I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl. And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world. But that's all right as long as I can have one wish I pray; when people look inside my life, I want to hear them say, "She's got her father's eyes."

Matthew 5:21, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'"

Our family resemblance is illustrated first by our attitude toward others and Jesus quotes the 6th Commandment from the 10 Commandments God gave Israel, "Do not murder." The Old Testament law is very clear and specific in describing what murder is. Numbers 35:16-21 lists specific violent acts to be considered murder and thus worthy of the death penalty.

But what causes people to do these violent acts? James suggests it happens because of the lack of peace we have within. James 4:1 & 2:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

James tells us destroyed relationships can eventually lead to murder because we do not have a relationship with God. It should come as no surprise then, that the murder rate in our country increases as people turn away from God.

The first and most obvious way we bear a family resemblance to God is by not killing someone. "No problem," we say. For the majority of us, the taking of another person's life is not a problem we have ever had or will ever have to deal with.

Looked at in that literal sense, not murdering is easy. But Jesus raises the stakes and tells us the cost we pay to look like his family is higher. Verse 22, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `you fool!' is in danger of the fire of hell."

Matthew Henry very pointedly gives three ways we display anger.

1) When it is without any just provocation given; either for no cause, or no good cause, or no great cause; when we are angry at children...for that which could not be helped...2) When it is without any good end aimed at, merely to show our authority...3) When it exceeds due bounds...when we seek the hurt of those we are displeased at...he has taken the first step toward (murder).

It was understood in those days that you did not call anyone "Raca," an Aramaic term of contempt. But that opened up new and creative ways to verbalize your anger. For instance, the Greek word for fool is "moros", where we get our word "moron". It has the idea behind it of not knowing or understanding spiritual matters.

Today we don't use certain vulgar words to describe people we don't like or are angry with but, just like the people of Jesus day, we come up with plenty of substitute words. "Jerk", "idiot", "pea-brain" and on and on. The idea in any name we call people is an assumption of our superiority over them. Instead of having a righteous attitude, we have a self-righteous attitude.

John Fischer observed:

Christians get frustrated the same way other people do. We also worry about money, fight with our mates, lose our tempers, gossip, and distrust one another. We even swear; except we have "Christian" swear words like "gee," "darn it" and "shoot." Does changing a few letters somehow sanctify an outburst of anger?

1 John 4:20 shows us why being angry with others is wrong. "If anyone says, `I love God', yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

Mark 11:25 even suggests God won't forgive us our sins until we can forgive others. "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

The whole idea of murder and anger has with it the idea of having control over others. It is a self-centered, me-first attitude. That's why Jesus warned us in verses 25 & 26:

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "The illustration of two men going to court underlines the urgency of reconciliation. Animosity is a time bomb...We must deal with it quickly, before the consequences of our bitterness get completely out of control."

Matthew 5:27 continues the idea of having a family resemblance to God with another self-serving action that gets in the way of our being part of his family. "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.'"

Adultery can be defined as the breaking of beliefs, morals and/or faith. Specifically, he is dealing with sexual sin but adultery breaks down all three of those areas in our relationships.

Back in the 1970s when he was running for president, Jimmy Carter made headlines and was ridiculed because he quoted this verse in an interview in, of all places, Playboy magazine.

I remember talking to a boy once who did not understand why his mother was so upset when a friend of theirs moved in with his girlfriend. Extra-marital, pre-marital and deviant sexual practices are so common place in our culture today we barely bat an eye anymore. The 7th commandment is widely ignored and snickered at by the world and the church.

Tony Campolo wrote,

The revolution in sexual behavior among American young people is astounding...(almost half of today's teenagers experience sexual intercourse before graduating from high school). At the same time, young people have continued to remain religiously committed, creating a deep conflict...It therefore isn't surprising to discover that suicide, depression, self-hatred and despair have become epidemic...

God made us to have relationships with people in a certain way according to Romans 1. You cannot live by the sexual standards of the world and still have a right relationship with God. This is serious stuff. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to "Avoid every kind of evil."

Jesus is much more graphic and specific in Matthew 5:29 & 30,

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "There is a fire within you; never bring any oil...near it."

To the chagrin of many, several years ago, convicted serial killer Ted Bundy confessed to Dr. James Dobson on the night before his execution that constant exposure to and lust for pornographic material kept him from developing any good relationships and eventually caused him to kill.

Jesus might not mean for us to physically abuse our bodies to keep from sinning but he does mean for us, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, to "Flee from sexual immorality".

Can we be like Joseph and literally run away from sinful situations? Can we turn off offensive TV programs, walk out of or not attend sexually explicit movies? Do we dare destroy books and magazines that cause us to sin? And can we avoid any situation that makes us lust for that which we cannot have? It is not easy. It is easier to sit passively by. But if we want to have a family resemblance to God, there is a high cost involved. Are you willing to pay it?

Matthew 5:31, "It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'"

Jesus makes a natural transition from the high cost of our relationships to the high cost of our word. Divorce is the breaking of our word.

Regardless of who is at fault or who wants the divorce or who is innocent and even the circumstances surrounding the divorce, it is a shattering and horrible experience. Most of us have been touched by divorce. Either someone in your family has divorced, one of your friends or neighbors has experienced the breaking of their vows or maybe even in your own life you know what it means to be divorced.

Since divorce is so commonplace today, why is it still so devastating and hurt so much? As Genesis 2:24 says, a man and woman "...become one flesh." And Jesus warns in Matthew 19, "what God has joined together, let man not separate..."

In spite of how common divorce has become it is not a natural circumstance in our life. The whole idea of divorce is foreign to God's plan. It is only allowed, Jesus explained in Matthew 19, "because your hearts were hard."

The point is, marriage is not to be taken lightly. This is not God hindering our personal growth or keeping us from being happy, but it is God trying to protect us from the overwhelming pain the breaking of the wedding vows bring.

And the one Biblical reason for divorce, adultery, is not a loophole for getting out of the marriage. Adultery disintegrates the concept of a couple being one flesh before an official divorce can be claimed. It is not an excuse to divorce but a statement that divorce has already occurred. The marriage has been ripped apart.

But what about abuse, neglect, abandonment or any other terrible situation families find themselves in? Can those people be divorced? Again, these situations have already destroyed the relationship. Jesus is not giving us a list of reasons to divorce. Rather he is warning us about the pain this breaking of our word brings. Preventive medicine, Jesus is saying, is much preferred to radical surgery.

Understand, divorce is not the unforgivable sin. Jesus is teaching us here that getting married is very serious. It is part of bearing a family resemblance.

Matthew 5:33, "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'"

The people understood clearly the law in Leviticus 19:12, "Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God." They understood it so much so that they would not even say the Hebrew name for God. But Jesus is telling us that is not the point.

Remember the little kids song, "Oh be careful little tongue what you say"? The high cost of our word involves all our speech.

The people would not swear by the name of God but they found substitutes. They swore by heaven, or earth, or Jerusalem, or themselves. The problem with that is in verse 36, "And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black."

To swear by something means you have authority and power over it. To say, "If I'm not telling the truth may lightning hit me" is a pretty safe boast unless we are standing in an open field during a thunderstorm.

Jesus is asking us, "When did we get the authority to control the weather?" Since when do we own the universe so we can put it up as collateral for our word? Can we give someone the stars if we break our word? Jesus said, "Simply let your `yes' be `yes' and your `no' `no'; anything beyond that comes from the evil one."

The high cost of being a pinch of salt involves making sure everything we say or promise or claim is true. Can we be trusted to keep our word?

Matthew 5:38, "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth'.

The letter of the law has to do with being fair. We are to go beyond just being fair in our lifestyle.

The "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" law is recorded three times in the Old Testament: Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21. The law was simple. If someone killed your cow, you could kill his cow. This was an important lesson in being fair. If someone chopped down your tree, you could not burn his house down. Jesus summarizes this law in Matthew 7:12 and we call it the Golden Rule today, "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you..."

This concept not only protects the defendant from a lynch mob, it also forces people to think twice before they do anything to anyone. Before you hit that person who made you mad, remember he has the right to hit you back.

When the girls were little, they liked to bite. Once one of them bit Holly and Holly took her hand and gently, but firmly, bit back. Holly did not draw blood or even leave a mark, in fact, it was more of a gumming than a bite. She would never hurt the girls. But the action woke our daughter up to the idea behind "eye for eye" and she stopped biting.

If we could just live our lives by that rule, we would be doing pretty well. But as always, Jesus challenges us to take this law one step further.

Matthew 5:39, "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

In Jesus' day, Roman soldiers occupied Israel. These soldiers had earned the reputation of being the most completely prepared soldiers in history. In order to be so well prepared, they had a lot of equipment they had to carry with them. Besides their weapons (sword, shield, maybe a dagger and maybe bow and arrows) they had a blanket to sleep on, food to eat and utensils to cook with. They also might have with them souvenirs obtained after a battle. All this would get very heavy, especially in the hot middle-east summer. So, to keep the soldiers from discarding important and expensive equipment if it got to heavy or hot (not to mention the potential danger of being without their supplies) Rome passed a law that forced every civilian to help the soldiers by carry their equipment for them up to one mile if the soldier asked him.

As you might expect, the Jews and others did not respond well to this involuntary "draft". They obeyed it but only at a minimum. They figured out that 1,000 steps equaled a mile and they would refuse to go a step further. Even if they were in the middle of a busy intersection or in the middle of a stream they would stop at exactly 1,000 paces and drop what they were forced to carry. It was also common to be rough with the supplies they carried. More than one soldier ended up with a dented helmet or sand in his supper from one who was forced to carry his equipment a mile.

But Jesus said "go with him two miles". Not a legalistic extra 1,000 steps but as Sinclair Ferguson said, "Do it voluntarily. He may see that you have another Emperor, and belong to another Empire, with principles that are infinitely stronger than the laws of Rome!"

We do not have that law about going one mile today. So does that apply to us today? Could it have something to do with the quality of homework we turn in? Or the quality of work we do at our job? Could this lifestyle involve how we respond to our neighbors or to those in need?

Jesus sums up our family resemblance in Matthew 5:43 and 44, "You have heard that it was said, `love your neighbor, and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

It is easy to fellowship with people at church. We've known them for a long time and we feel comfortable around them. People at church are a lot like us. But what about that non-Christian at work or school? What about those people that are different or mean or cause trouble for you? Matthew 5:46 and 47, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"

Every church I have ever been to claims to be a friendly church. But to whom are they friendly? There is great fellowship among the long time, active members but what about the outsiders? What about the newcomers? Would they feel welcome at your church? Would they know where to park? Would they know where to go for Sunday School? Or where the nursery is? Or where to sit? Or when do we stand or sit?

What do we do more than tax collectors and pagans?

Who do you look like?

V.

Money Makes the World Go `Round

Matthew 6:1-4

Matthew 6:1-4:

"Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "Here we have what we may call a picture of the Christian living his life in this world in the presence of God, in active submission to God, and in entire dependence upon him."

The theme for this whole Sermon on the Mount Jesus is preaching is, "We are the salt and light of the world." He first developed this theme by talking about the law and how we are to go beyond simple surface obedience and obey the meaning of the law in our hearts. As Christians, the Law has no chain on us. We know that the blood of Christ paid the price for our sin and he has set us free from the bondage of sin. Matthew 5:21-48 points out clearly that God is not so much concerned with legalistic obedience as He is with how pure and holy we are on the inside.

Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "How tempting for some of His hearers to think, `This is wonderful - a righteousness that is inward. We can forget about the discipline others think are so necessary to true spiritual well being. Let us be inwardly pure and holy.'"

But James 2:14 challenges that assumption: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him?"

Jesus assumes that there are certain "acts of righteousness" that we do. Notice, Jesus does not say, "Be careful not to do acts of righteousness," nor does he say, "be careful not to do acts of righteousness before men." Rather, he says, "Be careful not to do acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them." (underline mine)

That is why the author of "Kingdom Life in a Fallen World" wrote, "Why we do something is sometimes as significant as what we do."

Matthew 6 gives three acts of righteousness we do to show our light in the world and to share our salt. The first act is the topic of this chapter: giving.

Giving money is part of our Christian lifestyle. It is an act of righteousness. The assumption is, as Christians, we will give. The question Jesus answers here is how and why do we give?

The ability to give is not something we are born with. Even as babies we become very possessive of our toys. Giving is a discipline we learn as we try to be salt and light. "Jesus does not assume that these things will come `naturally.' Rather, He sees them as quite deliberate activities in the lives of His disciples."

Giving was, and is, the simplest and most obvious way we can display our acts of righteousness. Giving, contrary to our reluctance to talk about it in church, is a very common theme in the Bible. Thirty-nine times the giving of a tithe (or 10% of your income) is mentioned. Some 900 times offerings are talked about. And 1,500 times the generic term giving is used.

Leviticus 27:30 is where the law on tithing is found but the idea was much older, dating back to when Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils after battle in Genesis 14:20. And offering our material possessions to God goes back at least to the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4.

Acceptable gifts to God included animals (Leviticus 1:2), grain (Leviticus 2:1) and money (1 Corinthians 16:2). And there was some earthly reward associated with giving as recorded in Proverbs 11:24 and 25; Psalms 37:25; and Malachi 3:10-12.

The difference between a tithe and an offering was this: A tithe was the set amount required to be given in order to sustain the work. An offering was the amount given beyond that to help others. Some scholars say the early Jewish Christians continued to give their 10% to the Temple or synagogue on Saturday and gave their offering to the church on Sunday.

Giving has a physical side as well as a spiritual side. Randy was the church treasurer at a church I served. Every Sunday, after worship, he would gather the offering from the plates and put it in a deposit bag to take to the bank on Monday morning. One Sunday, Randy's wife, Gail, saw her young son, Daron, sitting in the living room watching the bookshelf where Randy had laid that morning's offering.

When Gail asked Daron what he was doing, he said, "My teacher says that we give our money to Jesus so I'm just waiting for him to come and get it."

Although we may not actually see Jesus come for his weekly offering, the money we give clearly shows our spiritual maturity and the money received enables a church to function and operate in our world. I believe, the measure of a church is better seen by looking at her budgets, debts and giving patterns than by who and how many attend.

Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "Jesus wants to point out to His disciples that there are dangers in the spiritual life when sinners undertake it."

Instead of being an act of righteousness, giving becomes a sin when it is done "like the hypocrites." The word, "hypocrite," means "play-actor." In essence, Jesus is telling us hypocrites give just for the recognition.

In ancient theater, actors did not wear make-up but wore various masks. The hypocritical giver is putting on a show; he is pretending to be something he is not. Specifically, the hypocrite is pretending to be holy and concerned about the needs of others.

In verse 2, Jesus paints a vivid word picture of a trumpeter following this play-actor as he tosses his money to the poor. Whether this was a common sight in Israel or if Jesus is exaggerating the problem to make a point, the hypocrite's only motivation to give is for the recognition and applause he receives.

The sin of giving has to do with why we give. Do we give for a tax write-off? Do we give to secure our position of authority and power? Do we give because we have to? Or do we give so people will see that we are good, faithful Christians?

Here is the paradox of giving: Giving is a public act that is also a private act. In Jesus' day, a basket was set up and people put their offerings in it. A popular "sport" was to sit by this basket and watch who put how much in. According to Mark 12:41, even Jesus did this.

We cringe at the idea today of everybody seeing how much we put in the basket. But is our uncomfortable feeling prompted by humility in giving or embarrassment over how little we give?

I know a church that uses money to control events and not as an act of worship. If the members are dissatisfied with the preacher, they will stop giving. Soon there is no money in the checking account, bills begin to pile up and the preacher no longer receives his paycheck. As a result, the minister either starves or moves on.

Most churches aren't this dramatic but we receive the reward we are looking for when we give. That church would get what it wanted: a new preacher.

Giving (or not giving), however, is a sin when we do it for any reason than to honor God.

Matthew 6:3 suggests we give in secret. But how do we do that? Jesus is not suggesting we stop placing our offerings in the plate on Sunday but he is saying we need to understand and have the proper motivation before we give. If we place our money in a plate, put it in a basket or mail it to church, we do so out of our love and as an act of worship to God.

On Christmas Day, it is a lot more fun for me to watch Holly and our children open presents than it is for me to open mine. What really ruins gift giving for me is when I feel obligated to give a gift of equal value for each gift I receive. That's not giving. That's gift exchanging.

I have the best memories of being "Santa Claus" for my children and staying up half the night on Christmas Eve putting toys together. The most I ever received for that act was a cookie and bottle of pop. But the frustration of parts that would not fit and instructions that required a degree to understand was all worth it on Christmas morning when I saw the joy on their faces and I felt the warmth of secret giving.

And I never felt as if I had to buy my children certain gifts. I always gave them their presents because I wanted to. Like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:7 about our giving to God, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

And secret giving has in mind the idea of your left hand not knowing what your right is doing. It means that when we give we are not drawing attention to ourselves. We do not give to be recognized. We do not give for any reward or plaque. Jesus said the hypocrite gets just what he paid for: the praise of man. But proper giving gives us something better: a reward from God.

Now, what this reward is exactly is hard to define. Jesus is not clear here what the reward is. It might be an earthly reward or as Luke 14:14 suggests, an eternal reward.

And, our reward may not be right away. If we give our lunch money to church we may not have lunch that day. But, the promise is, our Father will know the sacrifice we made and will not forget it.

Sometimes, we look at giving as a necessary evil we put up with instead of an act of righteousness. Being assigned to the budget committee, preparing and voting on a budget, worrying about the size of the offering and just the whole process of raising funds is not the kind of thing most of us bargained for when we came to church.

And, if you have been in the church for a while, you probably know of or have seen acts of abuse when it comes to the offering. We all know the horror stories and in a knee-jerk reaction, we become afraid to make a big deal out of giving and fear hearing criticism like, "The only thing that church ever does is ask for money."

But Jesus views this whole process of giving and offerings and church budgets in a different light. He calls giving an act of righteousness. In fact, it is the first act of righteousness he mentions in Matthew 6. It is one thing, he understood, to be good and come to church every Sunday and even to read your Bible. But Jesus knew to really be salt and light, to really make a difference in this world, we have to have money. After all, money is what makes the world go round, isn't it?

That truth is learned early by our children. Erika is always looking for ways to make money. Often, when we ask her to do a chore or extra work around the house, she will ask, "How much will I get paid?"

What we have and hold closest is what really defines who we are. What more powerful witness to the world do we have then to give up that which is most important to us and that which we hold closest to our heart?

VI.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Matthew 6:5-15

George Barna in his book, "The Frog in the Kettle", lists 8 signs of reduced commitment in life:

*The divorce rate is climbing: half of all new marriages today will end in divorce.

*Adults feel they have fewer close friends then did adults in past decades.

*Brand loyalty in consumer purchasing has dropped by as much as 60% in some categories.

*The proportion of people willing to join an organization as a formal member is declining.

*Book and record club revenues increased greatly once those companies removed long-term commitment demands.

*The percentage of adults who consider it their duty to fight for their country has dropped dramatically over the last few years.

*The percentage of people who commit to attending events but fail to show is on the rise.

*And, parents are less likely to believe it is important to remain in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the children.

Discipline and commitment. If they have not already become dirty words, they have, at least, had their meanings altered. To be disciplined in any way today is only put up with to achieve what an individual wants. When the result of discipline no longer pleases or is "good for" us, we drop it. Commitment is now a temporary agreement at best. Some predict that in the near future, "people will begin to consciously acknowledge that they are likely to have several spouses over the course of their lifetime...who will best satisfy their needs during different periods of their life. Instead of thinking about marriage as a lifelong commitment, we will perceive it to be a temporary union."

This attitude stands in direct opposition to the demands of Christ. When we choose Christianity, we are making a lifelong commitment. Our faith is not something we can take or leave depending on our situation in life. In Matthew 6, Jesus is teaching us about 3 disciplines that we are to develop in our lives that show we are the salt and light of the world. The last chapter of this book briefly looked at the first discipline: giving. This chapter will consider the next discipline: prayer.

Prayer is a discipline we are to develop in our Christian lives. But prayer, like giving, does not come naturally. A proper prayer life takes discipline and dedication. We need the right motivation, the right model to follow and the right mind-set in order to have effective prayers that go beyond the prayers of the hypocrites. Are you willing to make that commitment?

Matthew 6:5-8:

But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him.

Again, Jesus uses the hypocrite, or play-actor, as an example of the improper use of the act of righteousness. The hypocrite put on a good show and impressed people with the words he used but as Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "(Jesus)...exposes the religion of the hypocrites and pagans for what it really is: ignorance of God."

Have you ever heard someone preach while they prayed? I remember in seminary hearing sermons you could outline and use on Sunday presented as prayers during chapel service. It is easy to do. You have the attention of a roomful of people and you want to make a point so instead of addressing God you address those present.

Prayer is a personal and private commitment. That is why Jesus told us to "go into your room, close the door and pray to your father..." Now there are times when public prayer is called for. But we should never confuse that with prayer as defined by Jesus. Public prayer is a device to lead our thoughts and help us phrase prayer petitions and praises to God. There is a world of difference between scheduled public prayers at worship and the private prayers we offer God. Jesus is talking here about how we pray, not how public prayers are conducted.

We are told not to keep babbling like pagans when we pray. Pagans mean anyone who doesn't know God. So a pagan praying has no idea who he is talking to or what they are talking about. We should know whom we are talking to. We should understand that God hears what we say and answers our prayers.

Matthew 6:8 explains the right motivation. God already knows what we need. We do not have to say a word. But he wants to hear it from our lips.

Now, some say, "If he already knows, why doesn't he just give us what we need?"

If we believe in the absolute power of God that may be a proper question. But it is not the right question. We are to ask to remind ourselves that God is in charge not to get God to act. Prayer forces us to admit we cannot do something alone. The purpose of our prayers is to remind us that we need God.

Matthew 6:9-13:

This is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver you from the evil one."

The first thing we have to do when we pray is to open our mouth and talk to God. The tradition at Christian Service Camp is to have prayer circles at the end of the day with your team or family group. For many young people this is an embarrassing and awkward situation. Many have never prayed out loud before a group before and some have never prayed.

On the first night of camp, I always try to break the ice by telling the campers that "praying is simply talking to God and I know you can all talk because I have heard you talking to your friends. We can talk to God in the same way. If nothing else, at least say `Thank you God for this day.'"

That is usually a good starting point for young people to pray. Most of them, if they sense acceptance, will do at least that and by the end of the week some will pray for quite some time. Praying doesn't just happen. It takes practice.

That is why we have this model prayer. To help us get started. Jesus outlines for us 4 things we can talk to God about when we pray.

First, according to Matthew 6:9 and 10, we praise God. This is a proper and right beginning because our motivation, remember, is to pray because we need him. God is always there and willing to hear us.

Psalm 121 tells us, "I lift up my eyes unto the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber."

Secondly, Matthew 6:11 tells us, we ask for our needs. God is a personal God who desires to be involved in all our daily life. He is just as concerned about what we will eat for lunch today as he is with the results of the tests we took at the doctor's office. He wants to hear about our basketball game as well as the dear friend who is terminally ill. Let God be a part of your everyday life and you will be amazed at how easy it is to pray in times of trouble or crisis.

Then the third thing Jesus teaches us to ask for is forgiveness (Matthew 6:12). Again, this goes back to the right motivation. We need God to forgive us when we sin. By admitting this we claim to be sinners and show our dependence on him.

Finally, Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:13 to ask for strength. God has promised to be with us and by praying for his strength, we can again show our submission to his will and need for his guidance in our lives.

The King James Version of the Bible adds the phrase in verse 13, "for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen." Most scholars believe that was added later and not part of the original manuscript. But it does not take away from the power and beauty of this right model for prayer. The model is not so much a formula for answered prayer (if you use it you get what you want) as it is an attitude when we pray.

Matthew 6:14 and 15, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins."

1 John 4:20 says, "If anyone says, `I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

How can we expect God to forgive our sins when we cannot forgive others the injustices they bring against us? Read again the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35 for further insight into this idea.

God has promised to forgive our sins but if we cannot forgive others, he will not forgive us. Interesting concept of forgiveness, isn't it? Does it make us stop and think about our relationships? Does it make us want to reconsider how we feel about people? It should. That is the point Jesus is making. This is the attitude, or right mind-set, Jesus is talking about when we pray.

This is the second time in this sermon of his Jesus has mentioned the idea of God not hearing our worship or act of righteousness until we have our personal relationships straight. The other time was in Matthew 5:23-24.

Our prayers are effective acts of righteousness when we have the right mind-set.

I have long believed in the power of prayer. I was flattered in college when someone told me they appreciated my public prayers because it sounded as if I was talking one on one with God. But I learned a lesson about prayer a few years ago that I hope I never forget and that applies to our discussion here.

Popular theology says, "name it and claim it." Whatever we want we can have. But that is not what prayer is all about. In 1984, we were praying that all would go well in our court case to adopt Gypsy and Candy. The two sisters had lived in our home for three years as foster children and we knew they should not return to their biological parents. We were convinced that God wanted us to have the two girls and there would be no problem. We believed this because we knew it was right. We knew this because this is what we wanted and had long prayed for.

But something went terribly wrong in court and not only was our adoption petition denied but the girls were ordered to be sent back to their abusive parents. For the next six months we continued to tell ourselves it would not, it could not happen. God would not allow them to go back.

I will never forget June 3, 1985, the day they left our home. I had such an emptiness, such a sick feeling inside. It was like they died but worse. As Christians, if we would have a hope and belief they were alright if they had died. But being taken from our home like they were, we had no idea how they were and feared the worse.

In the days and weeks that followed, I took long walks and totally chopped to pieces a tree in our yard trying to release my anger. All the while I yelled at God. I blamed Him. Why did this happen? I was hurt. You let me down God! I did not understand. Couldn't we give them a much better home? We had prayed, we believed and yet they were still taken away.

I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. And looking back, I know understand that in reality I was. Until one day, I finally gave up and said, "Alright. You are God. I have no choice but to trust you." At first, I confess, I prayed that prayer bitterly but after a while I began to believe it and prayed that prayer with trust. With tears in my eyes I submitted to God and said, "your will be done."

Shortly after that we got a call from a social worker who asked if we wanted Gypsy and Candy back and added "oh yes, would you mind taking their little sisters Cathy and Erika too?"

Then it was clear. God knew what he was doing. Prayer wasn't for my benefit but to build my trust in him. If I had my will done we would have adopted Gypsy and Candy and never met Cathy and Erika. Maybe instead of telling God what we want we need to ask to see what He has in store?

The point is prayer is not to have our whims and wishes met. Prayer is not our own personal magic wand. Prayer is an act of righteousness that teaches us to submit to the will and authority of God. Prayer is not for our own personal gain but to show us who God is.

VII.

What Are You Looking For?

Matthew 6:16-34

Ponce deLeon was told by the natives of Puerto Rico about an island north of there that had a fountain of youth. If you drank from this fountain, he was told, you would never grow old.

Excited about the possibility of maintaining his youth not to mention the money he could make bottling and selling the liquid, Ponce deLeon set sail from Puerto Rico and headed north. He saw land almost immediately and decided this was the place. He spent most of the year 1513 searching for this great fountain. Every stream, every lake, every body of water he came to on this land he would stop at and taste the water. For years afterwards he would go back to this barren land, convinced that his dream was just around the corner.

The land he explored is what we call Florida today. The story of the fountain of youth, ironically, was a legend the Indians had invented based on the story about the garden of Eden white missionaries had told them about.

Some historians say that Ponce deLeon's search for this invisible treasure was responsible for his losing most of his land, wealth and position. He died almost broke, convinced that the fountain was out there just waiting for him to find.

What are you looking for? Maybe we do not search for the same fountain Ponce deLeon searched for but we still look for things that we can never quite have. The best job is the next one, the best car is what our neighbor has, the best clothes are still on the rack, the best home just went on the market, the best family is depicted on the Cosby show, the best body can be ours if we eat right and exercise enough.

Of course, even if we come close to achieving our fantasy, what good is it? Have you seen the bumper sticker that says, "Whoever has the most toys when he dies wins"? What do you win? What is the point? What good has all our searching been?

As a student, I worked at the Stamp & Coin department at the old Pogue's department store in downtown Cincinnati. There was this man who would come in every couple of weeks to buy stamps. Price was no object; he would usually spend $300 or $400 each time he came in. His collection included complete sets of some country's stamps. His collection was worth at least several thousand dollars, if not a whole lot more.

But this philatelist never looked at his collection and he never displayed them to the public. He would take the stamps he bought each time and immediately take them to his home and lock them up in a special fireproof vault. He never looked at them again and he had no intention of ever selling them. He just wanted a copy of every single stamp in the world. They were his treasure.

Jesus concludes Matthew 6 by challenging us to look closely at our treasure. He tells us whatever is most important in our lives is our treasure. The question Jesus poses is "What are you looking for?" The answer is clear. As Christians we must always be looking for Jesus. That is what he is trying to teach us in this chapter. That is the point of these acts of righteousness in the first 18 verses: Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the applause of man.

We must be looking for Jesus...

Matthew 6:16-18:

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your father, who is unseen; and your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting is an act of righteousness just like giving and praying. They all three have in common the idea of self-denial. When we fast, we give up food. Whether we spend the time we normally eat in prayer or concentrating on spiritual matters or use the money saved not buying food to give to some cause or need doesn't matter. Fasting is a time to clear our minds and bodies and look to Jesus, not men.

The act of fasting is not discussed much in the church today like giving or praying. Fasting however, is mentioned in the Bible 64 times. Some commentaries skim over fasting by calling it purely optional. But in Matthew 6, Jesus talks about fasting in the same way he talks about praying and giving. They are all acts Jesus assumes we will be doing. He did not say, "If you want to fast" or "If you decide to fast" but "When you fast".

And the point he is trying to make about fasting is the same point he tried to make about giving and praying. Fasting has more to do with attitude than action.

I suppose fasting has lost some of its appeal today partly because we have so much food in our culture. For years politicians have campaigned on the theme "A chicken in every pot". In our land of plenty, overeating is a sign of prosperity, not a sin.

The hypocrite in verses 16-18, "play-acted" their fasting. Matthew Henry wrote, "Theirs were mock-fasts, the show and shadow without the substance."

In a real sense the hypocrites were cheating God. They lied about their intention and purpose for fasting. They fasted not to please God but so man could see them and say what religious people they were.

Fasting is the most private of the three acts of righteousness Jesus described. In our giving we were told not to let our left hand know what our right hand was doing. Prayer should be done in our room with our door closed. But fasting should be done so that it will not be obvious we are fasting. People can see if we go to our room to pray. Monetary gifts to the church can be seen. But how will anyone ever know we fast?

Jesus does not tell us how long we should fast. Some religious leaders of the day fasted twice a week but the Bible only records one time Jesus fasted. Generally, fasts last one day, many times only until sunset. Some fasts were only partial: abstaining from certain foods.

Whether we fast for a few hours or a few days, partial or complete, at a regular time or only on special occasions doesn't matter. The purpose of a fast is to fix our minds, hearts and soul upon Jesus. If we cannot do that, it does not matter how much we give up, we are not fasting.

We must be looking for Jesus...

Matthew 6:19-24:

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

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

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

Having just told us how to perform our righteous acts, Jesus continues by talking a little more about our attitude.

Did you know that the life expectancy of a dollar bill, that we all work so hard to obtain, is 18 months. In that short period of time the money is usually torn or faded and useless.

Have you seen or read the articles about what would happen if an earthquake struck in the Midwest? In areas prone to earthquakes, they build their homes differently but in the Midwest a severe earthquake would utterly destroy all the homes and buildings we have worked so hard to build.

And if what we own doesn't erode with the passing of time, someone might break in and steal it. Why else would home protection agencies have a booming business?

What are we looking for? Our lives, Jesus tells us, is controlled by what we think is really important. Is worship important? You don't have to say a word: your presence speaks for you. Is your family important? Regardless of what we might say, and sometimes in contrast to it, our involvement and actions speak louder than all the nice words. Do we care about one another at church? I think every church in North America claims to be the "friendliest church in town." But words mean nothing if they are not accompanied by action.

That is why Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. Sinclair Ferguson wrote,

We should notice the obvious implication of what Jesus is saying. We were made to have a master; God made us for himself...We are created in such a way that worship is an integral part of our nature. But when we turn from worshipping the Lord, we do not cease to be worshipping creatures...we become slaves to what God has made...(our) possessions.

The self-denial that acts of righteousness require is a great deal if our eyes are focused on getting what we can out of this life. If we are focused on Jesus however, the requirements of giving, praying and fasting are not only small but also a joy to surrender. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

We must be looking for Jesus...

Matthew 6:25-34:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat' or `What shall we drink' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Don't worry. That is easier to say than do. But look at what Jesus is saying. He does not assume, as some would interpret, that we can go through our daily life without concern or worry about various things. We will wonder if we can make the mortgage payment, we will be concerned about our children, we will worry about job security. That is part of our daily life.

The word translated worry or anxious here means "to have our minds distracted". What Jesus is saying is, "As you go through your daily life, with all its worries and concerns, don't let those worries and concerns distract you or take you away from serving God."

Do you recall or have you ever seen a farmer working his field with a horse pulling a plow? The farmer would put blinders on the horse to keep him from being distracted. Without those blinders, the horse might see something off to the left or right and head in that direction. Even if the horse did not change his course, the distractions would take him away from his job. With the blinders, all the horse could see was the direction the farmer wanted him to go and he would stay on that straight line.

In child development, it is called, "staying on task." The ability to concentrate on the work at hand and not wander off into another tangent.

The solution to being distracted by things in our daily life is in knowing what to put first. There is an old saying "You can't see the forest for the trees". Too often the things that are really secondary or less important like food, drinks, clothing, take more of our time and energy and strength than that which is most important: serving Jesus.

Several years ago I ran across an obituary. It was at first, a normal obituary about a man who was in his 80's when he died. The article talked about his wife of over 50 years and his children and grand children and great grand children. It talked about his job and his church and the social organizations he was in. But the thing that made that obituary stick in my mind was the last sentence. "He was going to write a book."

For many of us just trying to make it through this month or this week or even just make it through this day is all we have time to do. There are so many things that distract us, so many things that take us away from time with the Lord. We just don't have time for anything more than survival.

Jesus understood that when he spoke. He did not tell us we don't need clothes or food or homes. He is not telling us we can do without our jobs or education or community involvement. He is telling us that non-Christians worry about those things. We are to be the salt and light of the world, remember? God knows what we need. The challenge, the idea that goes beyond simple lip service and demands hard work and commitment, is to be more concerned about the things of God. The promise is when we do that, we will have what we need. Not necessarily the most or best or all we want, but what we need.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

What Jesus is demanding here is full time obedience. He is not interested in us being Sunday only Christians, or part time employees of the cross. His desire for us, in fact the thing we really need, is to be totally dedicated to the cause of Christ.

In Matthew 27 a rich young man came to Jesus. It is obvious the young man wanted to do what was right. His riches were not giving him the satisfaction we so often think they bring.

"What must I do to get eternal life?" was his question. Jesus questioned him on the law and told him only those who obeyed could have life.

The man said he had been obedient but he knew there must be something more. Matthew 27:21 and 22, "Jesus answered, `If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."

The man wanted life but he did not want to pay the price. What do you want? What are you looking for? The answers are here in the Bible. Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to give up what you have for Jesus?

The old hymn asks:

"Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamer answered, "to the death we follow thee." Lord, we are able, our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us like thee divine: Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are you able? Are you able to give your life completely and wholly over to Jesus?

VIII.

Planks, Dogs, Sawdust and Pigs

Matthew 7:1-6

So far in our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we have discovered at least 21 actions or attitudes the Christian is to have as they live their life in this world. Suddenly, in Matthew 7:1 and 2, Jesus shifts gears. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

With these words, Jesus begins to wrap up and conclude what he has to say. Matthew 5 and 6 were detailed accounts of the marks of a Christian. Following the examples given would take us a long way in being the salt and light of the world. And now he tells us, "do not judge". These words are some of the most misunderstood in his whole sermon.

Sinclair Ferguson noted,

Frequently we hear (these words) cited when, for example, we make some comment on a situation and condemn evil. "Judge not," someone will say to us, seeming to imply, "Don't ever say something is wrong. It isn't up to you to judge."

That is how the world would rather we be. "Don't force your morality upon me" is the call of the late 20th century. People today will insist there may be more than one right way to live.

Over 30 years ago, Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,

We are living in an age when definitions are at a discount...It is an age which is characterized by a love of ease and compromise...It is an age of appeasement...It dislikes a man who knows what he believes...It dismisses him as a difficult person who is "impossible to get on with."

The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to teach us how to live. Matthew 5 and 6 gave us examples of a righteous man and a self-righteous man. Jesus assumes we can discern which is which. So there is a certain amount of judging that must take place in our daily lives. We have to distinguish right from wrong. We must understand who a hypocrite is and we are forced to decide if we will follow Jesus or the world.

Our everyday lives are filled with judgement calls we must make. Everything from what clothes to wear to determining if we will believe what we hear from friends or salespeople. We have to pass judgment every day.

What Jesus is warning us about is how we judge. Any condemnation of others should be tempered by remembering who we are and whom we are talking to.

Jesus gives two very vivid and funny illustrations to make his point. Today, let us look at these two illustrations and see what they tell us about judging.

Matthew 7:3-5:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

The word picture Jesus paints is a good example of his humor. You can almost see a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face as he talks about the hypocrite with a 2 X 4 stuck in his eye. Did the audience laugh? Did they get the joke? Matthew doesn't say but I imagine that when the people went home they told that silly story over again around the dinner table.

But as funny as that story was, Jesus made a very serious statement with it. Alexander MacLauren described it this way:

If we have grave faults of our own undetected and unconquered, we are incapable either of judging or of helping our brethren. Such efforts will be hypocritical, for they pretend to come from genuine zeal for righteousness and care for another's good, whereas their real root is simply censorious exaggeration of a neighbors faults; they imply that the person affected with such a tender care for another's eyes has his own in good condition.

Mr. MacLauren used the word "censorious" in describing the hypocrite in Matthew 7 and I discovered many commentaries, old and new, used that same word. It means, "fault-finding or critical." In our modern culture, evangelical Christians are often portrayed as egotistical, critical bigots looking for faults and quick to condemn others. Jesus warned us about being that way.

The clearest teaching on not being censorious, is found in John 8:1-11. It is the story of the woman caught in adultery. Notice in that story, Jesus never said she was innocent. Because she wasn't. He never said it was wrong to punish her. That was the law. The point Jesus was trying to make was only those who are sinless had the right to inflict punishment.

Now, here is the way we are to judge according to John 8:11, "Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared, `Go now and leave your life of sin.'"

He did not condemn her or hold her sin against her but he did let her know what she did was wrong and warned her not to do it anymore.

We are to recognize sin for what it is and make it very clear sin is wrong and leads to death. But this recognition of right and wrong should, instead of causing us to crusade against other's sins, make us reflect on our own sinful condition. As Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst."

When Gypsy was younger, she would grip about not having enough time to get ready for school in the morning. Trying to be a helpful father, I would list all the things she did when she got up, placed time values on them and pointed out she could easily be up and ready in 30-45 minutes instead of the hour she claimed she needed.

"But," Gypsy would argue, "I need 10 or 15 minutes after my alarm goes off to wake up."

I thought that was pretty silly but later when I told Holly about my discussion with Gypsy and how silly it was for her to think she needed her alarm to go off 15 minutes before she got out of bed, Holly just laughed at me. "You do the same thing every morning," she reminded me.

It is a lot easier to find fault or criticize others for what they do or how they act then it is to examine our own lives and clean up the mess there.

Sinclair Ferguson claims,

This spirit of censoriousness has a common symptom. It often manifests itself by flying into a rage against some injustice. Do not misunderstand. It is right to be opposed to each injustice we encounter. But sudden and strong outbursts of emotion can sometimes be signs of a sensitivity that is personal rather than moral and spiritual.

Jesus does not say don't do anything. Rather he challenges us, as we encounter sin and sinners to consider how we would want others to approach and correct the sin in our lives. And further, he tells us to keep our minds on overcoming our weaknesses first, then we can have the right to correct others.

Be careful what you protest. The cartoon character Pogo once claimed, "We have met the enemy and he is us." We could just as easily say, "We have met the sin in others and it is our sin." Judging, like giving, praying and fasting can become an act we do that makes us very self-righteous. Holier-than-thou. Jesus is warning us to go beyond surface judgement of others and straighten out the mess in our own lives first.

Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

The illustration of the plank and sawdust warn us of the danger of forgetting who we are and the sin in our own lives. The illustration of the dog and pigs warn us of the danger of forcing our lifestyle and morals on those who do not know or have rejected God.

Dogs were not generally kept as pets in those days. They were wild animals that lived in packs at the edge of the city and scavenged through the filth and waste of the village. The Jewish community considered pigs unclean and to be down and out in those days was referred to as "living with the pigs."

What a silly picture Jesus makes of dogs discussing and pondering over the written word of God and pigs parading around in necklaces and jewels.

Dogs and pigs do not understand what is sacred and have no use for the things we consider valuable like pearls. Instead of appreciating the words of wisdom or gems we might toss to them, they become angry because they cannot eat it. They turn on the one doing the tossing and trample over what we consider important as if it were nothing.

No matter how perfect our lifestyle is, no matter how great our evangelistic methods are, no matter how clearly we spell out what sin is, there are still people like these dogs and pigs who will never respond. The Old Testament describes these people as having their hearts hardened. Paul describes them as "...futile and their foolish hearts...darkened." in Romans 1:21.

Our responsibility as Christians is clear. We are to spread the gospel to everyone in the world. But Jesus is telling us, don't be foolish. If they refuse to listen or respond, go on. You are wasting your time throwing what is sacred to the dogs. Matthew 10:14 says, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."

There are too many people who want to know and need to hear about Jesus for us to dwell on getting pigs to wear jewelry.

There are many Christian individuals and organizations today that spend most of their time condemning the lifestyle and actions of various non-Christians. And even though I appreciate the information and reminder they give Christians of the evil and sin in our world, those they judge could really care less. If their source of income is decreased or cut off or threatened by a boycott or bad publicity should result from protests, they might change but not because they understand the evil sin is. Chances are however, they will begin to attack those who are taking their lifestyle or income away.

We had a dog whose name was Shady. When Shady was a puppy, I tried to housebreak her by using a rolled up newspaper. It made her stop messing up the house but she never did understand that what she did was wrong. She was just scared of the newspaper.

Boycotts and protests do not make people see the sin in their lives. We might win the battle (the offensive thing may be stopped) but we will have lost the war (the offender goes right on sinning and never understands who Jesus is).

As a matter of fact, Jesus warns us, they might "turn and tear you to pieces." Would it not be better to teach these people the good news about Jesus? Then they can respond and the sin can be really cleaned up instead of hidden away somewhere else.

"Casting pearls before swine" means doing what is mindlessly inappropriate. On occasion we get stuck in the rut of a tradition that is not in itself biblical...By our actions, we are really conveying an unspoken message that the gospel belongs to a past generation, or is permanently enshrined in some ancient tradition.

Paul said he became all things to all people in order to win a few. It is wrong to assume people will come to us just because we are a church. They might come once or twice out of curiosity but if there is nothing here, they will leave.

Someone has said the Christian life is a party. In other words, there is something here that is attractive, something that people want to be a part of. That has something to do with being salt and light. And it has something to do with what we have to offer: pearls to pigs or the truth of life.

So, how do we judge? As always, Jesus gets under our skin and forces us to scratch deep inside ourselves. To search our attitude as well as our actions.

The only unchangeable thing in all our world is Jesus. How we talk to people, methods we use, programs we plan will change. The only constant we know is Jesus and his plan of salvation.

IX.

The Squeaky Wheel

Matthew 7:7-12

Matthew 7:7-12:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Chapter 7 of Matthew is the conclusion or the "wrapping up" of the great Sermon on the Mount Jesus has been preaching. Some say these verses we just read are a hodge-podge of thoughts as Jesus tried to think of more to say. Or perhaps Matthew just threw together various teachings of Jesus in one place.

The reality is Jesus is summarizing what it means to be "salt and light". That is the theme of this whole message. Everything from Matthew 5:3 to 7:27 revolve around the words of 5:13 & 14, "You are the salt of the earth...you are the light of the world."

In considering all that Jesus has to say, it would be easy for us to be overwhelmed by the amount of expectations and confused by the volume of regulations we are to follow. Just as in our day, the people of Jesus' day wanted to know the bottom line. "What does all this mean to me?"

That is a legitimate question. It is not an attempt to find a shortcut to salvation but an attempt to rightly judge for ourselves the things we come across in our daily life and how we need to respond to them.

After discussing how we are to treat others in Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus turns his emphasis inward and answers the question, "How shall I live?" He tells us we need to be persistent in our prayers, personal with our God and live a possible lifestyle.

Jesus is not talking about prayer being an act of righteousness in Matthew 7:7 and 8 as he did in Matthew 6:5-15, but about a general attitude we have to God.

In the book, Kingdom Life in a Fallen World we read,

No one can follow the sermon up to this point without becoming profoundly aware of his need. We are beggars before God. We are spiritually shortsighted and undiscerning. We are so far behind what we should be for the sake of our Lord Jesus. We have nothing to offer him.

Here, then, Jesus teaches us what has rightly been called "beggar's logic." We are to persist in asking for God's grace though we are beggars (for spiritually, we always remain so).

We have all heard the old saying, "The squeaky wheel gets oiled". That is what God wants us to be. Not an irritating person or a pain but persistent in our asking. Because when we constantly ask God for things, we are made aware of how dependent we are on him. Just as a beggar is dependent on the generosity of others, we are dependent on God's grace to help us through each day.

Some have taken Matthew 7:7 and 8 and based a theology around it. The "name it, claim it" theology. It is the belief that God is obligated to give us whatever we ask. Taken alone, these two verses might seem to indicate that.

But God is not some kind of spiritual Santa Claus. He is the almighty Lord of the universe. We cannot place our orders with him like some kind of mail order catalogue. We need to be reminded that we are in the presence of our creator and as such, fear and trembling might be a better attitude.

Now, God wants us to be bold when we approach him. He wants us to be persistent. But we need to also be reminded that there are certain, for a lack of a better term, conditions that must be met when we ask, seek and knock. First, Jesus already has reminded us to forgive others when they hurt or sin against you. Matthew 6:14 and 15: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Then, the Bible teaches us we are to ask in faith. James 1: 6 and 7: "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord."

After we have the right attitude and relationship with others and when we pray believing God will answer, then we must pray with the right motives.

James 4:3 tells us, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Consider, why do you want your request? Is it just for your own pleasure, to satisfy your own desires or is it to help others or to further the kingdom of God?

Finally, 1 John 5:14 reminds us, "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

The bottom line to persistent praying, the key to receiving, finding and having the door opened is to seek the will of God. Remember, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and then all these things (clothes, food, possessions) will be given to you as well."

God wants us to talk to him. He wants to be a part of our daily life. He is not some far off deity who sits passively on his throne.

Matthew 7:9-11 again,

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Here is a mystery: The God who is our judge is also our father! We cannot separate the righteous king who judges and determines our fate as described in the Old Testament from the loving, grace filled father figure of the New Testament. He is the same person. Rather than causing confusion, that gives us as Christians a clear-cut advantage.

One time, after Cathy's basketball team lost a game she was complaining to me about the referees. It seemed to her all the calls were going against her team. The reason she figured this happened was because both referee's for the game had little sisters that played for the other team. So, naturally, she assumed, they would give the other team the advantage.

This is not to suggest that God cheats for us but it demonstrates, as the old saying goes, "I've got friends in high places".

Sinclair Ferguson asks,

But why does Jesus return to his stress on the fatherhood of God here? Because, as we have already noticed, his concern is that we should discover that...the truth about God...does not lie in one or the other of these characteristics (judge or father), but in both. We shall never really understand the wonder of his grace until...we discover that he wants us to be his sons and daughters.

Considering all that Jesus told us we had to be in this sermon, this should cause us all to heave a sigh of relief. To insist we had to be "perfect...as your heavenly father is perfect," to hear that this judge not only wants to forgive us when we fail but also wants to adopt us as his children is truly good news.

When we were in the adoption proceedings with the girls, the judge reminded us that the adoption of Gypsy, Candy, Cathy and Erika was not for our egos, not to fulfill some void or need in our lives but to help the girls. It was to give them a loving, stable environment to grow up in and to keep them together as a family and to provide them with a new name. Isn't that what God has done for us?

The picture of an ever powerful, fearsome, awesome, mighty God standing in final and complete judgement over us is frightening. But instead of giving us what we deserve, instead of giving us what we expect, he provides an escape clause; his son Jesus Christ.

But there is even more! Instead of just acquitting and forgetting about us, he claims us as his children. As Paul tells us in Romans 8:17, "Now if we are his children, then we are heirs -heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..."

We call Matthew 7:12 "The Golden Rule". "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

All that Jesus has been trying to teach us in Matthew 5 and 6 about our relationships are summed up in that verse.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "What an extraordinary and remarkable statement it is. It is nothing, of course, but an epitome of the commandments which our Lord has summed up elsewhere in the words, `Love thy neighbor as thyself.'"

It would be impossible to list all the situations, all the various types of relationships we find ourselves in daily. How do we deal with the stranger we meet? Or our boss? Or our teacher? Or our fellow students or co-workers? Or our neighbor (the nice helpful one who brought over chicken noodle soup when you were sick as well as the cranky one who constantly complains about how your yard looks and your kids act)? The key, Jesus tells us, is to treat them as you would want to be treated.

This is a very deliberate act. The idea is we consciously stop and think - how would I like to be treated if I were in that person's situation?

It is a no-lose attitude to have but it takes work. Isn't it easier to blow off someone who is rude or obnoxious? And doesn't the world teach us to look our for yourself?

The philosophy of our culture is to make a good life for yourself. That may be in having a good education, a good job, a nice home or car or boat. That may be in family or friends and even in "church work". The job, people say, is to be fulfilled. When church, family, friends, job, school, home, car or boat no longer please us, or fulfill us, we leave and find something better. Jesus tells us that kind of thinking will never satisfy us. Only in being sensitive and concerned about other's needs and wants can we hope to find satisfaction and fulfillment.

"...for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Jesus concluded. With over 21 specific actions in this sermon and hundreds of regulations and rules in the Old Testament defining how we should live, it would be easy for us to say, "It is impossible. After all, no one is perfect."

But Jesus insists it is possible. It can be done. He further shows us how in Matthew 22:34-40. Jesus was asked what the greatest (or most important) commandment was. He replied, "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"...And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

How do we live? How can we be satisfied and fulfilled? Love God and man and show it with your attitude. The two go together as John told us in 1 John 4:20, "If anyone says, `I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

A persistent, personal and possible lifestyle is ours for the taking. The first step is humbling ourselves before God. Do we understand our need for him? Do we realize the extent of our sin? Are we tired of living a meaningless, unfulfilled, dead-end life? Are you ready to put aside everything else and submit to him? Will you be obedient and become salt and light.

X.

Do You Have Insurance?

Matthew 7:13-27

Do you have insurance?

Several years ago a man named Iben Browning predicted the Midwest would experience an earthquake measuring 6.5 to 7 on the Richter scale. Browning, who had claimed success in predicting major earthquakes of the past, even gave a date for the devastating movement of the New Madrid fault.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted accurately but people took him very seriously. In the little towns around the fault line, including my father's hometown of Lepanto, Arkansas, schools were dismissed, many businesses planned to be closed, and several people made arrangements to be out of town.

Even in our northern Kentucky, where I lived and over 300 miles away from the epicenter, the public schools discussed earthquakes and the effects it would have on our area and the media constantly featured stories about a possible quake. Insurance companies all over the Midwest reported increase in sales in the weeks leading up to D-Day, especially with policies that cover earthquakes.

People want to be prepared. Some took the prediction very seriously even though climatologists claimed you could throw a dart at a calendar and say the date it lands on will be the day of the quake and be about as accurate as Mr. Browning.

The New Madrid fault will probably slip someday and there will be an earthquake sometime in the next 30 years. But no one knows for sure when or how severe it will be. Iben Browning's predicted date of disaster came and went and nothing happened. This time.

May I remind you of something much more important and much more sure to happen than an earthquake destroying our community? Jesus Christ will be coming back. Do you have insurance?

Jesus ends his sermon on the mount with three warnings. He gives his warnings in the form of illustrations. We can phrase them in the form of questions: Which way will you go? Who will you follow? and What will you believe?

The insurance policy Jesus reminds us we need involves our lifestyle. Jesus was not talking about being salt and light just to hear himself talk. Sinclair Ferguson wrote, "There is always a certain appeal in the broad way, in the false teacher, in the immediate success story. But we need to be warned by Jesus that the principles on which the kingdom of God is established are very different."

Matthew 7:13 and 14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Presenting a choice of two ways for a man to go is a common illustration in the Bible. Proverbs 15:19; Psalm 1; and Jeremiah 21:8 are three good examples of choices we have to make. Here, in Matthew 7, the choice is between entering the broad and wide road or the small and narrow road.

Even though the broad road is the more heavily traveled way and "everyone seems to be there", Jesus clearly points out that way is the way to destruction.

Whenever I travel, I prefer to go on the major highways and interstates. I feel secure knowing it is a well traveled road and usually it is a faster and better way to get to my destination. But on the road of life the super highway is a dead end.

"`Do not be deceived,' Jesus is saying, `what I am setting before you is a life and death issue. Look along with me through the gate, right to the final destination. Look at where these entrances will lead you.'"

People go on this broad road for various reasons. Everything from outright rejection of Jesus and his teachings to simple "follow the crowd" mentality. In the book, Kingdom Life in a Fallen World, we learn, "Jesus is urging us, as we make the vital decisions of life, to think things through to their inevitable conclusion in the light of biblical teaching."

Galatians 6:7 reminds us, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

The warning Jesus gives us is to choose carefully which way you go. He also spells out clearly for us the result of both roads. It was very clear in Jesus teaching: ignore what he says and you will have no part of his kingdom. Do what he says and you will have eternal life.

As good as the broad road seems at first, it leads nowhere but to destruction. And the narrow road? Martyn Lloyd-Jones said:

Too often the impression is given that to be a Christian is after all very little different from being a non-Christian...It is not so according to our Lord...It does not try to persuade us that it is something very easy...The gospel of Jesus Christ openly and uncompromisingly announces itself as being something which starts with a narrow entrance, a strait gate.

He goes on to suggest at least three things we must give up to enter this gate.

First, we give up worldliness. The old song we use to sing at camp says, "This world is not my home, I'm just-a passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue." Can we have that mind-set? Can we look beyond the temporary delights of this world and strive for the eternal rewards of eternity?

Secondly, we are to give up the ways of the world. It is one thing to withdraw from the world, to be segregated from all the evil and bad and sin. It is quite another to stop living like this world and become salt and light. And that is what Jesus has been teaching us in chapters 5,6 and 7 of Matthew.

Finally, we have to give up our self. Or more appropriately, our selfishness. This is the biggest problem with trying to enter the narrow road. Too often we want to enter the gate on our terms. We will come to him the way we want. To this, Jesus says, "No!"

Mark 8:34, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

There is no room in the kingdom of God for petty little dictators. There is no room in the church for those who must always have their own way. The road of our Christian life is narrow with room only for Jesus and his way.

Matthew 7:15 and 16, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?"

The image I get when I read verse 15 is a cartoon picture of a wolf draping himself with a bad sheep costume. It is obvious what he really is.

If the false prophets Jesus are warning us about were that easy to spot, we would have no problem. Unfortunately, the wolves in sheep's clothing are very deceptive.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "their teaching is right, but their lives are wrong."

We can identify these false prophets in three ways. First, by their attitude. Matthew 7:15 calls them "ferocious wolves." Sinclair Ferguson describes them this way, "He does not lay down his life for the sheep...Instead, he uses the sheep to serve his own interests."

These are the people who come into a church and try to make a name for themselves. They are the ones who search for power and control and find satisfaction in molding the church into their own image.

Their fruits can also identify them. Matthew 7:17-20 prompts us to remember the obvious, "Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."

Simple questions to ask to determine if a person is a sheep or a wolf in sheep's clothing include, "Are they Christ-like?" "Are they becoming more Christ-like?" "Do those who come in contact with them increasingly share those Christ-like qualities?" Nothing can destroy a church like negativism. It is the bad fruit that destroys the whole tree. And being negative is more than just putting someone down and demeaning the work of others or the church. Being negative can also be a passive act.

Not building up others with words of encouragement or not displaying acts of love are all negatives. We can not say a word and still be a negative influence on those around us. Withholding words or acts suggest a false superiority and over the long run minimizes and demeans others attempts to serve.

The third way a false prophet can be recognized is by their priorities.

Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

In a very graphic and frightening way Jesus summarizes what he has been saying throughout this sermon. It is possible to be a very charismatic, dynamic and popular leader in the church and not understand who God really is or know his grace.

We are impressed by the active member, we respect the knowledgeable teacher, we honor the long time attendee but what God really wants is for us to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."

Our public show is not nearly as important as our private relationship.

Matthew 7:24-27:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Offering the invitation at every worship service has lost its meaning in many places today and there are those who would not use it every time. The reasoning is that not every sermon calls for a decision. But whenever the word of God is shared, a decision is not only called for, it is demanded! And it is almost always the same decision: What will you do with Jesus?

The foolish builder surely knew it was not good to build on sand. That is why he is called foolish. But for whatever reason, he chose to ignore what he heard and knew and built his house on sand anyway. In spite of any good intentions he had, in spite of his own justifications for building there, the rains still came and the house still fell.

What will we do with Jesus? That is what we are being asked. The question Jesus leaves us with is, "Do we believe him or not?"

In very simple terms, in very plain language he has spelled out what God expects of us. Now he is offering the invitation: What will you believe?

The Christian world is confused today about what we believe. That is why there are so many denominations and churches. Many today do not care about creeds or beliefs of different churches. As long as their needs are met they will attend. After all, they say, we are all trying to reach the same goal.

Tony Campolo tells the story of a trip he took on an airplane. He hoped to use the time in the air to sleep but the man next to him wanted to talk. The man asked him what he did and hoping to shut him up he said, "a Baptist minister."

The man responded, "Do you know what I believe? I believe there are many ways to heaven." Mr. Campolo mumbled that's nice and turned over to sleep.

As they were approaching their destination, a storm came up. Tony Campolo, awake now because of the turbulence, turned to the man next to him and said, "I'm glad the pilot does not buy into your theology. He is listening very carefully to the air traffic controller who is telling him exactly what he must do to land safely. I'm glad he is not like you and saying, `there are many ways to land this plane.'"

The warning Jesus gives us is about what we do with what we have heard. We cannot pick and choose our righteousness. We cannot believe some and ignore the rest. Jesus has not given us that option. If we do not believe him and decide to live however we want either by our actions or our words, we can be certain our house will someday fall with a great crash.

But if we obey his teaching, if we apply it to our lives, if we try to be the salt of the earth and light of the world, we will find not only our house secure but also our life. Jesus said in John 10:10, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Look at Matthew 7:28. "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching."

No other response is recorded from the crowd except their amazement. I use to think that was a positive response but now I wonder...

Could it be that the greatest sermon ever preached was nothing more to them than an intellectual exercise? Did their discussion afterwards center more on who the wise and foolish builders were than on what Jesus was challenging them to? Was it more a critique of his style and manner than a reflection of the words of life he shared?

It is so easy to pick apart, scrutinize and analyze scripture that we lose sight of the message. I do not know whatever became of that great crowd that heard the wisdom of the ages from the master teacher. Matthew does not tell us the amount of people who came forward at the end of the sermon like Luke does in the book of Acts after Peter's sermon at Pentecost. And that's ok. Because rather than forcing us to focus on the numbers that respond, we are compelled to focus on our own response to the Lord's words.

This sermon Jesus preached is more than good illustrations and colorful pictures. It is a warning to us about the choices we make and a challenge for us to follow Jesus. To be a pinch of salt in the world.

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