MATTHEW LESSON 12
We will begin this lesson in Matthew 5:26 "Verily I say unto
thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the
uttermost farthing."
This is in connection with last week's lesson, where we need to
agree before going to court and being thrown in jail. Christians, as
I said in an earlier lesson, should not be looking for reasons to sue
someone. We need to live peaceably with all men.
Matthew 5:27 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not commit adultery:"
This is one of the 10 commandments. In Old Testament times, the
participants in this type of sin were stoned to death. This sin
involves the body (the temple of the Holy Ghost) and is therefore a
very serious sin.
Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in
his heart."
Our hearts will be judged, even more than our deeds. The desire
to sin is worse than the act of sin, unknowingly committed.
Premeditated murder is much worse than killing someone during an
argument, because of the desire of the heart to murder. Our hearts are
either desperately wicked and cause us to sin, or we have pure
hearts which make us righteous in God's sight. The Bible says,
whatever is in our hearts will come out of our mouth. We cannot speak
both good and evil, because sweet and bitter water does not come from
the same well. Whatever is in our hearts, is what we really are.
Following Jesus, or Satan, comes from the heart. The whole thing takes
place in the heart, as we read in Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:9 "That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved." Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Matthew 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and
cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast
into hell." Matthew 5:30 "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it
off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one
of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be
cast into hell."
These 2 verses above are fundamental. It would truly be better
to be blind, and on our way to heaven, than to see clearly on our way to
hell. It, also, would be better to be a cripple, and on our way to
heaven, than to go to hell with a whole body. Sometimes, our good looks,
or, our special physical abilities, may turn our heads and cause us to
believe we do not need God. This, I believe, is what this Scripture
is talking about. Anything that draws us away from God is bad.
Matthew 5:31 "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his
wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:" Matthew 5:32 "But
I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the
cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever
shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
When Jesus said this, it was about like it is now. People were
being divorced for every little whim. Jesus was trying to show how
important marriage is, and it is not to be taken lightly. Not being
faithful has always been grounds for divorce, and in our day
homosexual activity is, also, grounds for divorce. God, also, says do not
be unequally yoked with those of unbelief. If your spouse is a Satan
worshipper, then you must not stay with him. What Jesus was saying, is
that marriage should be forever. Nothing, except something of a moral
issue, should separate husband and wife. When they two are married,
the Word says, they two become one flesh. Only a spiritual matter
should cause a split. If we would just pray and ask God to send His
choice of mate for us, we would save everyone a lot of pain.
Matthew 5:33 "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them
of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto
the Lord thine oaths:" Matthew 5:34 "But I say unto you, Swear not at
all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:" Matthew 5:35 "Nor by
the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is
the city of the great King." Matthew 5:36 "Neither shalt thou swear by
thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black."
Matthew 5:37 "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
Our word should be our bond. Whatever we say, we must stick by
it. The Bible says, that God swore by Himself, because there was no
greater. We really cannot swear even by ourselves, because we are not
our own. We have been bought and paid for. We have nothing to base
our oath upon; for everything we are and everything we hope to be, is
by the grace of God.
Matthew 5:38 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an
eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" Matthew 5:39 "But I say unto you, That
ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also."
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord." (Romans 12:l9) We do not need to take vengeance. The Lord
will take care of it for us. If we will let Him handle it for us, it
will heap coals of fire on their heads. Vengeance is a never ending
cycle. Kill them with kindness; it hurts worse.
Matthew 5:40 "And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take
away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also."
Jesus was saying, don't argue over material things. They will pass
away. We get ahead much faster by trying to out-give the other
person. If we are generous, people will be generous with us, also.
Matthew 5:41 "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go
with him twain."
Do more than is expected of you.
Matthew 5:42 "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn not thou away."
The Scriptures say, if we do these things, we will never have
need. God rewards us openly for the good we do secretly.
Matthew 5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy." Matthew 5:44 "But I say
unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you;" Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil
and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Jesus loved everyone in spite of their sins. He said, "Father ,
forgive them; for they know not what they do." If we are truly His
followers, we can do no less. We should pattern our lives after His.
We should be unselfish, kind, gentle, long-suffering, and giving.
Matthew 5:46 "For if ye love them which love you, what reward
have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"
The world loves its own. To be different from the world, we must
love the unlovely.
Matthew 5:47 "And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye
more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?"
He was saying, that is the way the world acts; giving to receive in
return. Give with no hope of return, not just money, but of
yourselves, also. Forget about self.
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect."
No one in the flesh can achieve this goal, but this is the
calling of a Christian; to try to be as near like Jesus as is humanly
possible. Jesus is our example. We must try every day to be a
little more like Him.
Next lesson, we will get into chapter 6. Read it 3 times.
Matthew l2 Questions
1. How should Christians live with all men?
2. What is our body?
3. Why is adultery such a bad sin?
4. If a man looks at a woman with lust in his heart, what sin has he
committed?
5. What will be judged more than our deeds?
6. Man's heart is either _______ or _____.
7. What kind of message will come out of our mouth?
8. Can we curse and bless both? Explain.
9. What 2 things does the Scripture Romans l0:9-l0 tell us we must do
to be saved?
10. Physical blindness would be better than what?
11. For what 3 things is it okay to get a divorce?
12. Man and wife are one what?
13. Why did Jesus say we should not swear by heaven?
14. Why not by earth ?
15. Why not by our own head?
16. Instead of taking vengeance, what should we kill them with?
17. If someone sues you and takes your coat, what should you do?
18. If someone asks you to go a mile with them, how far should you go?
19. Who are we told to love?
20. If we learn to love like this, who are we like?
21. Does God let the sun shine on just the good? Explain.
22. If we are Christians, what should our lives be like?
23. To be different from the world, what must we do?
24. In verse 48, we are told to be perfect. In the flesh, can we
achieve this? What must we do?
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