Short Statements: Great Truths(2) Matthew 5:37 I. Introduction. A. Review first lesson. B. Recognize that even silence can make a great statement: Matthew 27:12. 1. He had answered one question: Matthew 27:11. 2. Further: Matthew 27:13-14. 3. Jesus is the master of short statements. C. Always remember that one does not have to be wordy to express truth. 1. Yet--recognize some difficult passages do require an extensive explanation. 2. When truth can be expressed in simple and understandable words--can be brief. D. Note what Jesus said: Matthew 5:37. II. Body. Consider these few words.... A. Short statements of Christ about faith: 1. "He that hath ears, let him hear": Matthew 13:9. a. Lessons on listening(hearing) are valuable-- because Jesus taught us to listen. b. Some of His day were hindered by prejudice and other interferences. c. Peter appropriately said: John 6:68. d. There were those dull of hearing in the early days. e. There were others who heard the truth "gladly." 2. "By their fruits ye shall know them": Matthew 7:16. a. How true--in plants and in men. b. Fruits are products of growth! c. There are good fruits and bad fruits--and some that are green. d. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and vice verse. e. Note: II Corinthians 9:10. 3. "For my yoke is easy, my burden is light": Matthew 11:30. a. Explain yoke: joins two things together. b. One who is a Christian is yoked to Christ and other Christians. c. Jesus' burden is light(explain). d. One can make the yoke hard and the burden heavy. 4. "I and the Father are one": John 10:30. a. Jesus' relationship to the Father explained. b. The Jews' accused the Lord of blasphemy. c. Men often reject what they find difficult to understand/accept. d. While the Jews accused the Lord of blasphemy: he only revealed the truth. e. There are many truths in the Bible that we do not fully understand: that does not alter or cancel the truth. B. Short statements of Christ that demonstrate his power. 1. "Maiden, arise": Luke 8:54. a. Parents suffered the loss of a child. b. Only those who experience can fully understand the hurt. c. Jesus had the power to raise her: he did. d. The reaction of the parents: Luke 8:56. 2. "Peace be still": Mark 4:39. a. Ever been in a tornado or hurricane? b. How about on rough waters? c. The disciples were frightened: Mark 4:38. d. The Lord had only to speak to nature: He created it. e. The reaction of the disciples: Mark 4:41. C. Short statements of/or about disciples: 1. "And he went out and wept bitterly": Matthew 26:75b. a. When one betrays another, there should be great sadness. b. Peter denied the Lord three times. c. How the pressure of others influence people. d. Peter would live the rest of his life acknowledging him and then--die for him. 2. "I go a fishing": John 21:3. a. Their means of livelihood: Peter went to his job. b. Still did not fully understand what had occurred and would occur. c. John's short statement: John 21:7. d. As Jesus stood on the beach, Peter swam to his Master. e. Peter is questioned by the Lord: John 21:15- 17. f. Peter becomes a fisher of men. 3. "Look on us": Acts 3:4. a. A man was lame from birth. b. Only those so afflicted could fully empathize with this man. c. Peter had no wealth to give him, so he gave him something far greater: Acts 3:6-8. d. Opened an opportunity to teach the crowd: Acts 4:4. 4. "Keep yourselves in the love of God": Jude 21. a. People have strange ideas about love. b. What does it mean to love God? (1 John answers: I John 5:3. (2 The child who loves a parent follows the parents instructions. c. One keeps himself by keeping his word: I John 2:5. d. Love is the emotion that motivates one to conform. 5. "We must obey God rather than men": Acts 5:29. a. The council of the Jews had charged them not to teach the gospel. b. The apostles had orders from a higher power. c. In a simple statement--they made known their position. d. Oh--how much we need this attitude. e. There is only one choice for the faithful: obey God. III. Conclusion. A. Jesus final statement to some: Matthew 25:12. B. The five foolish did not watch and prepare.-jy