The Gospel of Matthew

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The Gospel of Matthew
Knowing the Messiah
2
Review

• Matthew 57-12 (The Beatitudes)
• Merciful
• Pure in Heart
• Peaceful
• Willing to stand and suffer for what they believe

3
The Approach

• The Beatitudes tell us what will make us blessed
  or happy.
• The remainder of this passage addresses the
  issues that make God happy.
• Jesus assumes that those who truly love God will
  want to make Him happy. Those who do not, will
  find His teaching difficult.

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Salt Light (513-16)

• Salt and Light
•      13 "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.
       14 "You are the light of the world. A city
  on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let
  your light shine before men, that they may see
  your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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2 Fold Ministry

• The essence of salt and light is the effect they
  have.
• Salt adds flavor and cures flesh
• Put on decaying meat to slow the decay process
• Light illumines the darkness
• Two specific ministries
• Counteract corruption
• Light the darkness

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The Relationship Implied

• Being salt and light requires relationship
• Salt must remain salty or it becomes useless
• Apart from Jesus we can do nothing John15.
• To shine forth light, we must remain lit
• Jesus is the Light of the World John 1
• We only reflect His light like the Moon reflects
  the light of the Sun

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Get Out of the Shaker

• S.A.L.T
• Sharing
• A
• Living
• Testimony
• It is all about being a witness to the world. But
  it must leave the shaker.

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Shine

• L.I.G.H.T
• Living
• In
• Goodness
• Hope
• Trust
• If we hide our light, these illuminating
  qualities will not be shared

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Let it Shine

• Matt 516 In the same way, let your light shine
  before men, that they may see your good deeds and
  praise your Father in heaven.
• Letting it shines is about what we are willing to
  do. We have to LET IT SHINE
• Why?....So others will come to know God by your
  example.

10
Lifestyle Evangelism

• Sharing a living testimony by living in goodness,
  hope, and trust in God is the single greatest way
  to evangelize.
• Even if you can not speak well, your life can
  speak volumes
• Even if you do not know the Scriptures well, you
  can Know the Savior
• Our purpose is to point the way to the Savior

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Fulfillment of the Law (517-20)

• The Fulfillment of the Law
•      17 "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. 18 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. 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. 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.

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The Controversy

• Is the Law abolished?
• If it is, then what relationship do believers
  have to it.?
• If it isnt, then do we have to live by it?
• Is it by faith or works?

13
Jesus and the Law

• I have not come to abolish them
• Matt 517
• not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of
  a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law
• Matt 518

• but to fulfill them
• Matt 517
• until heaven and earth disappear
• until everything is accomplished
• Matt 518

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Jots and Tittles

• one jot -- the smallest of the Hebrew letters.
• one tittle -- one of those little strokes by
  which alone some of the Hebrew letters are
  distinguished from others like them.
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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Opposing sides

• Jesus
• I have not come to abolish them- Matt 517
• Paul
• made us one in Christ by abolishing in his flesh
  the law with its commandments and regulations.
  His purpose was to create in himself one new man
  out of the two, thus making peace- Eph 215

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Was Paul against the Law?

• NIV Ro 213For it is not those who hear the law
  who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those
  who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
  NIV Ro 331Do we, then, nullify the law by this
  faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
• NIV Ro 712So then, the law is holy, and the
  commandment is holy, righteous and good. NIV Ro
  714We know that the law is spiritual but I am
  unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. NIV Ro
  716And if I do what I do not want to do, I
  agree that the law is good. NIV Ro 725Thanks
  be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So
  then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's
  law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law
  of sin.
• NIV 1Ti 18We know that the law is good if one
  uses it properly.

17
James (The Brother of Jesus)

• NIV Jas 411Submit Yourselves to God11 Brothers,
  do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks
  against his brother or judges him speaks against
  the law and judges it. When you judge the law,
  you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment
  on it.

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Reconciling Differences

• Basic principles of interpretation
• God is always right
• The Bible does not contradict
• When we find the harmony of seemingly
  contradictory verses, we find the truth.
• The truth supports the full context of Scripture
  on the matter

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Seek the Greek

• Abolish-katargeo (gk).
• Definition to render inoperativeNASB
  Greek-Hebrew Dictionary
• abolishing (1), bring to an end (1), did away
  (1), do away (1), done away (4), fades away
  (1), fading (1), fading away (1), nullified
  (1), nullify (4), passing away (1), released
  (2), removed (1), render powerless (1),
  severed (1), use (1).
• NASB Greek-Hebrew Dictionary

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Conclusions on The Law

• English is not always able to accurately portray
  what was meant.
• In the Greek, we find that a single word may have
  many meanings
• In this case, the Law is not done away with
  rather, it is rendered powerless to condemn us
  because the price for sin has been paid by Jesus
• I am not saved by the Law, but when I am saved, I
  will uphold the Law because it will be written on
  my heart.

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NIV Ro 416

• Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it
  may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
  Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of
  the law but also to those who are of the faith of
  Abraham. He is the father of us all.

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Motivations

• The issue at stake is one of motivation
• Why would I obey the Law?
• Fear-the beginning of wisdom-external
• Love-The fullness of wisdom-internal
• That is why we are toldNIV Ro 1310Love does
  no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
  fulfillment of the law.

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Specific Issues

• Adultery-Marital infidelity
• Divorce-Termination of covenant
• Oaths-Swearing falsely
• Revenge-Seeking recompense for an offense
  received
• Why do you think He picked these issues?

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Getting to the Root

• These sins broadly summarize the human situation
• Adultery (Sexual Sin)-Fornication, perversity,
  covetousness, stealing
• Divorce (Unfaithfulness)-lying, malice, gossip,
  slander, hatred, violence
• Oaths (Integrity)-failing to fulfill a promise,
  dishonesty, deception, greed,
  rebelliousness
• Revenge (Hatred)-violence, malice, murder, strife

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Romans 120-32 (NIV)

•  For since the creation of the world God's
  invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine
  nature--have been clearly seen, being understood
  from what has been made, so that men are without
  excuse.      21 For although they knew God,
  they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks
  to him, but their thinking became futile and
  their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although
  they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and
  exchanged the glory of the immortal God for
  images made to look like mortal man and birds and
  animals and reptiles.      24 Therefore God
  gave them over in the sinful desires of their
  hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of
  their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged
  the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and
  served created things rather than the
  Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
       26 Because of this, God gave them over to
  shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged
  natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the
  same way the men also abandoned natural relations
  with women and were inflamed with lust for one
  another. Men committed indecent acts with other
  men, and received in themselves the due penalty
  for their perversion.      28 Furthermore,
  since they did not think it worthwhile to retain
  the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a
  depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
  29 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, 30 slanderers, God-haters,
  insolent, arrogant and boastful they invent ways
  of doing evil they disobey their parents
  31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless,
  ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous
  decree that those who do such things deserve
  death, they not only continue to do these very
  things but also approve of those who practice
  them.

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Murder (521-26)

• Murder
•      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.' 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!' will be in danger of the fire of
  hell.      23 "Therefore, if you are offering
  your gift at the altar and there remember that
  your brother has something against you, 24 leave
  your gift there in front of the altar. First go
  and be reconciled to your brother then come and
  offer your gift.      25 "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. 26 I tell you the
  truth, you will not get out until you have paid
  the last penny.

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It Begins with a thought

• NIV Jas 42You want something but 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.
• Why do we hate enough to murder?
• Hatred and greed go together.

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The attitude

• If a person is full of hatred, they can not be
  full of love
• Love is the characteristic of Godly people
• When love is present, it overcomes hatred
• A person who truly loves can not murder
• Love also overcomes hatred.
• Love does not envy (1 Cor. 13)

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Hatred and God

• Nothing we offer to God is acceptable if we are
  full of hate
• This is the picture represented in the story of
  Cane and Abel. Cane had anger already in his
  heart toward Abel. So much so that he murdered
  him. Ironically, it was his hate that caused God
  to choose Abels offering to begin with.

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Adultery (527-30)

• Adultery
•      27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not
  commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone
  who looks at a woman lustfully has already
  committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 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. 30 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.

31
The Point

• Adultery starts with a look. It is not enough to
  say, I never actually did anything. God wants
  us to get to the root.
• If I love God, I will love my spouse and seek to
  honor them. True love will turn me away from
  looking. It is not OK to look as long as you
  dont touch.
• It is a heart issue
• Why go looking if you have what God has provided?
  
• Is what He gave not good enough?

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The Eternal Perspective

• Is any flesh worth going to Hell for?
• Passion last for a minute
• Hell lasts for eternity
• Seek to remove whatever causes you to stumble.
• Consider the flesh as worthless in comparison to
  the Spirit

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Divorce (531-32)

• Divorce
•      31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces
  his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
  32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his
  wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes
  her to become an adulteress, and anyone who
  marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

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The Covenant

• Covenants are serious in Gods eyes, especially
  marriage.
• Covenants enacted with God as the witness are
  eternal. Even if you receive a legal divorce, it
  is not recognized by God.
• Infidelity is the only legitimate reason for
  divorce

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Oaths (533-37)

• Oaths
•      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.'
  34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all either by
  heaven, for it is God's throne 35 or by the
  earth, for it is his footstool or by Jerusalem,
  for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do
  not swear by your head, for you cannot make even
  one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes'
  be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No' anything beyond
  this comes from the evil one.

36
Revenge (538-48)

• An Eye for an Eye
•      38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye
  for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 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. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take
  your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
  41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with
  him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you,
  and do not turn away from the one who wants to
  borrow from you.
• Love for Enemies
•      43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love
  your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell
  you Love your enemies and pray for those who
  persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your
  Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on
  the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
  righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love
  those who love you, what reward will you get? Are
  not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if
  you greet only your brothers, what are you doing
  more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
  48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father
  is perfect.

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They Shall See God

• To see God is to know Him in every way.
• 1 John 32-3
• 2Beloved, now we are children of God and it has
  not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we
  know that when He is revealed, we shall be like
  Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone
  who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just
  as He is pure.

38
Peacemakers

• He is a God of Peace
• His Message is one of peace
• He calls us to make peace
• Peace is our Guardian
• He is our peace

39
He is a God of Peace

• 1 Corinthians 143
• 3For God is not the author of confusion but of
  peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
• 2 Thessalonians 316
• 16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you
  peace always in every way. The Lord be with you
  all.

40
His Message is one of peace

• Romans 51
• Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
  Christ, 2through whom also we have access by
  faith into this grace in which we stand, and
  rejoice in hope of the glory of God

41
Romans 1015

• 5And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
  As it is written
• How beautiful are the feet of those who preach
  the gospel of peace,
• Who bring glad tidings of good things!

42
He calls us to make peace

• Romans 1419
• 19Therefore let us pursue the things which make
  for peace and the things by which one may edify
  another.
• Hebrews 1214
• 14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
  without which no one will see the Lord
• Romans 1218
• 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you,
  live peaceably with all men.

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Peace guards our hearts and minds

• Philippians 46-7
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
  prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
  your requests be made known to God 7and the
  peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
  will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
  Jesus.

44
He is our Peace

• Ephesians 214-18
• 4For He Himself is our peace, who has made both
  one, and has broken down the middle wall of
  separation, 15having abolished in His flesh the
  enmity, that is, the law of commandments
  contained in ordinances, so as to create in
  Himself one new man from the two, thus making
  peace, 16and that He might reconcile them both to
  God in one body through the cross, thereby
  putting to death the enmity. 17And He came and
  preached peace to you who were afar off and to
  those who were near. 18For through Him we both
  have access by one Spirit to the Father.

45
Sons of God

• If he is a God of Peace and
• Jesus is the Prince and King of Peace
• Who brought The Gospel of Peace,
• then ..
• His sons will be known by their peace
• the peace they have
• the peace they make

46
Persecuted for Righteousness

• Matthew 511
• Blessed are you when they revile and persecute
  you, and say all kinds of evil against you
  falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly
  glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so
  they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

47
Romans 816-19

• 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our
  spirit that we are children of God, 17and if
  children, then heirsheirs of God and joint heirs
  with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that
  we may also be glorified together.
• 18For I consider that the sufferings of this
  present time are not worthy to be compared with
  the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For
  the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly
  waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

48
The Kingdom of Heaven

• Heaven is the hope of those who suffer because
  there is no suffering there.
• Revelation 22-4
• Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
  coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
  bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a
  loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the
  tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell
  with them, and they shall be His people. God
  Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And
  God will wipe away every tear from their eyes
  there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
  crying. There shall be no more pain, for the
  former things have passed away.

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Conclusion

• In this life, we can not trust in
• relationships, wealth, possessions, revenge,
  accomplishments, our abilities, or anything else
  to make us blessed and happy.
• We can trust in God to bless us and make us happy
  because our minds have been changed to understand
  eternal truth. Knowing the Truth sets us free.