MATTHEW LESSON 11

     We will begin this lesson in Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of
the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."  Matthew 5:15
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
Matthew 5:16  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

     In these Scriptures above, Jesus is explaining that if we are
Christians, then we have His Light dwelling within us.  This Light of
Jesus should be so brightly shining, that no one need ask if we are
saved; but they should be quick to see the glow of this Light within
us.  This Light goes with us and should illuminate wherever we are.
Sin has a way of being hidden in the darkness, but when we apply the
Light , it does away with darkness.  In St. John the first chapter, we
read about this Light. John 1:7 "The same came for a witness, to bear
witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe." John
1:8 "He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that
Light." John 1:9 "[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world." In Verse 4 of St. John chapter l, it
tells us who this Light is, John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was
the light of men."  You see, Jesus has brought the Christians out of
the darkness and into His marvelous Light.

     First John 1:6-7 tells it all.  I John 1:6 "If we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth:" I John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

     We are commanded to go out, and let this Light shine brightly, and
win the world to Jesus.  My prayer has always been that Church in the
Wildwood, would be a Light set on a hill, so that those in darkness
(spiritual) might see the Light and be saved.

    In verse l6 of Matthew 5, says for people to be able to see the
good works caused by this great Light being ever present in our lives.

     Those of you who have been associated with me, know that I
believe that Jesus (The Light) is the source of all energy.  Physical
light brings life on this earth.  Spiritual Light brings everlasting
life in heaven with God.

     Jesus is the Light; we, Christians, are a carrier for the Light.
We are not the Light.  We are a holder that it can be seen in.  We,
Christians, must bring this Light of Jesus to the whole world in
darkness, so that the Light can dispel the darkness.  I could go on
for days on this darkness and light.  We will say some more in future
lessons on this subject, but for now we must go on in Chapter 5 of
Matthew.

     Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."  Matthew 5:18 "For
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

     The law in the Old Testament, and in fact the Old Testament
itself, is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.  The
Word of God never changes.  God's law (Old) is made more glorious in
the New.  The Old Testament constantly prophesied about Jesus
coming to fulfill all prophecy.  Jesus was the fulfillment.  The law
was not bad, just misunderstood.  Jesus fulfilled the law and
reconciled us to God the Father.  Jesus was not, and is not, a
destroyer; He is a builder.

     Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the
same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

     The law was given to make us realize our need for a Saviour.  No
one, except Jesus Christ, has ever been able to live a perfect life.
There is something we have done, that we need forgiveness for.  Jesus
shed His precious blood to free us from sin and death.  He paid the
price in full for my sins and for your sins; therefore fulfilling
the law.  You see, God's law led up to God's grace.  Like a part in a
puzzle, it had to be there to complete God's plans.

     In verse 19, we see that we must be careful what we preach and
teach.  It is bad to sin yourself, but it is worse to teach others
that it is okay to break God's law.  My message lately has been that
Jesus is coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle.  If
you have a sin in your life, confess it, and get forgiveness.  Take on
the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

     Don't try to make your own decisions anymore.  Let Christ live in
you.  Let Jesus take total control, and then you won't make any
mistakes.  It is an awesome responsibility to be forming young lives.
We must not only teach them of God's love, but also His judgement.

     Matthew 5:20  "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye
shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

     As we said in the previous lesson, God does not want a lukewarm
Christianity.  Having a form of religion is not what He wants.  He
wants our hearts.  The scribes and Pharisees were well known for
keeping the law.  God was not pleased with them.  They had only a
surface belief,  a literal religion, not a spiritual.  There will be
people who never miss a Sunday going to church, who won't make it to
heaven.  They have a form of religion, but deny the power thereof as
it tells us in Second Timothy 3.  The walk with God that is pleasing
to Him is the Spirit walk, being totally submitted to the will of God.
To have the righteousness of Christ, it has to be seven days a week
and everywhere, not just at church.  They that worship God must
worship Him in spirit and in Truth.  Some who stand before Jesus to be
judged will say: I cast out demons for you, I prayed for the sick for
you, I did all these mighty things for you, and Jesus will say that He
never knew them.  He had their outward worship, but He didn't have
their hearts.  If it is a chore for you to go to church, please examine
yourself.  Church should be a joy; and something we look forward to,
not a bother.

     Matthew 5:21 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of
the judgment:"  Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in
danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire."

     Here, again, Jesus was telling us that the sin takes place in the
heart.  We have sinned already if we desire to kill, even if we do not
carry it out.  We should not call people names.  First of all, we are
not their judge, Jesus is their judge.

     Notice here, it says do not call your brother "Raca".  This is
one Christian calling another this name.  "Raca" means, o empty one,
or thou art worthless.  Christians are never empty; they are filled
with the Spirit of Jesus.  They are never worthless.  Jesus thought
they were valuable enough that He gave His life for them.  You
can see, if we were to call a Christian this name, we would be saying
that Jesus was in error.  You can readily see how dangerous this would
be.

     The word that was translated "fool", here, has a base meaning of
stupid, blockhead, absurd, or dull.  It is very important to be more
concerned with cleaning up our own lives, than trying to criticize 
our brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.  Our
careless conversation should be cleaned up.  We should not call God's
people names.  God can take care of them without our help.  I question
how sincere a Christian is when he cannot clean up his language.

     Matthew 5:23 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and
there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;" Matthew
5:24 "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

     We must, as Christians, love our brothers and sisters in Christ
as we do ourselves.  God will not accept offerings made from a
heart full of bitterness.  If we take communion with bitterness in our
hearts, we may drink sickness, and sometimes death unto our bodies.
Quickly forgive everyone and particularly the brothers and sisters in
Christ.  God desires that we love each other.  We do not love the sins
in someone lives, but we love the person.  Hate the sin and love the
sinner.

     Matthew 5:25 "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art
in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to
the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast
into prison."

     I really believe that Jesus told us that if there is any
possible way to settle something out of court, do it.  People have
gotten into a rut, suing everyone for the slightest thing.  Most
things could be settled out of court, if people would just try.  There
is no reason for two Christians to fight something out in court.  The
two should get together, and pray, and each give a little.  These terribly
expensive court cases could be stopped.  Give a little if necessary,
it will be cheaper than hiring an attorney.  Praying together can
solve many problems.  Learn to forgive and forget.  Christians should
not subject themselves to the judges of this earth.  There is one
Judge and His name is Jesus.











































                         Matthew 11 Questions


1.  In verse 14, Christians are called what?
2.  When we let our light shine, what does the world see in our lives?
3.  Who gets the glory?
4.  Who is the Light spoken of by John in St.  John?
5.  Besides being called Light, what was He called?
6.  If we say we are Christians and walk in darkness , what is said
    of us?
7.  What cleanses us from all sin?
8.  What has been my prayer about Wildwood?
9.  What kind of light brings life on this earth?
10. What kind of light brings ever lasting life ?
11. Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law, but to do what?
12. The law and the Old Testament are a type and shadow of what?
13. Jesus is not a destroyer, but a what?
14. A teacher and a doer of the law shall be called what in heaven?
15. Why was the law given?
16. What is worse than sinning yourself?
17. What, besides God's love, should we teach?
18. What 2 groups must our righteousness exceed?
19. What were these 2 groups well known for?
20. What kind of walk is pleasing unto God?
21. What is wrong if we dread going to church?
22. What are 2 meanings of "Raca"?
23. The word translated "fool" in chapter 5, means what?
24. What kind of offering will God not accept?
25. If we take communion with bitterness in our hearts, what 2 things
    might happen?
26. In verse 25, we are to agree with adversaries quickly, so this will
    not happen.  What is it?
27. What should 2 Christians, who have a problem, do?
28. Who is really Judge?