Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12(day five)  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Jesus’ words are brilliant in this section of His sermon. He knows full well (as should we) that we cannot, on our own, remove any logs (sin).  Only the Lord can do that. Furthermore, this process (every time we are inclined to judge or correct others) of removing our own “logs” should teach us deep humility. Every time we see something sinful in others, there is the possibility/probability of sin in our own hearts and lives that should be dealt with- That’s a lot of confession. And every time the log is removed (only by God) we experience His love and forgiveness- That’s a lot of forgiveness. Maybe we are so quick to judge others because we haven’t experienced and learned from countless times of the Lord’s forgiveness required to adhere to this teaching.

What would our judging words and actions be like (in intensity and frequency) if influenced by hearts that experience constant confession and frequent forgiveness? I’m guessing quite different.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:25-34 (day five)

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It’s worth noting that in this short passage, Jesus 3 times says “Do not worry”, and another time He questions the value of worrying. Why all the worrying?  What is it about the human heart that lends itself to worry?  Let me offer 3 possibilities.

First is trust. Remember earlier in this sermon, in the Model Prayer, we are encouraged to pray that God would give us our daily bread. If we pray that way each day and worry about it later, then perhaps we really don’t trust God to meet our needs.

Second is control (close to #1). We take back control of meeting our own needs (the examples Jesus gives are so inward and selfish focused). It’s a description of someone who has resumed complete control of their lives and all the details involved.

Third is despair. The life that looks into the future without any certainty will worry. It’s a distorted view of the future that makes no provision or accounting for the sovereignty of God, the promises of God, and the indwelling of the Spirit.

Lives marked by vibrant faith, obedient surrender, and joyful hope are ones that find very little space and opportunity for worry.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:19-24(day five) “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“  Jesus makes an amazing proclamation. “Your heart always follows your treasure.” Jesus uses a comparative strategy to drive home His point and help us conclude, the treasure “stored” in heaven is superior to that which is “stored” on earth.
What if Jesus was warning against a greedy selfishness? Store for yourselves– A heart turned inward and focused only on self. What if our “treasures” could be used to encourage and minister to others? What if we heeded the call this year to “Love Your Neighbor” (2024 church theme) by also using our treasures?  What if our hearts were intentionally focused and filled with the hope and certainty of eternal (heaven) things rather than temporal (earth) things?  Would that shape the way we live and love?  (Jesus thought so). Jesus is not only making sense, He is helping hearts find genuine faith, hope, and love.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:1–8, 16–18 (day five) Anyone else notice the possible contradiction in the preaching of Jesus?  Just a few verses before, He says, “Let your light shine before men.” And yet in our Re:verse text, He says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” Why would He seemingly be saying two different things?  One is commanded and the other is prohibited.

If we look more closely, we realize that Jesus is confronting the sinful tendency of the human heart. He is calling out two particular sins- cowardice (in the earlier passage- that would keep our light from shining) and vanity (in this week’s text- that would cause us to want to be seen and get recognition). So, how do you know which is which?  What is the litmus?  I believe the telling issue is the Glory of God. We must answer the question that comes from both passages, “Who gets the glory?”  Is it God or man?  Our heart’s desire should always be that by what we do and where we do it, that God, not man, be glorified. This discerning ability demands constant communication and engagement with the Lord- a vibrant personal relationship with Him. Perhaps a worthy resolution for the new year.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:33-48 (day five) ”But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“
Jesus is teaching a complete perspective of what loving really is, and who our neighbors really are. Certainly loving through our deeds is a natural and understandable application. “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” Luke 6:27. Jesus modeled this for us.   See Romans 5.

Jesus also preaches, we are to love with our words- our prayers. Maybe the more difficult assignment. “This is the supreme command… through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer  And didn’t Jesus model that very same thing on the cross?  “Father forgive them…”  Oh that our words and prayers would shape our thoughts and hearts to love all of those around us.  

“It is impossible to pray for someone without loving him, and impossible to go on praying for him, without discovering that our love for him grows and matures. We must not, therefore, wait before praying for an enemy until we feel some love for him in our heart. We must begin to pray for him before we are conscious of loving him, and we shall find our love break first into bud, then into blossom.”- John Stott

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:17-32(day five) “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.“

The ticket for admission into the Kingdom of Heaven now includes a righteousness greater than the Scribes and Pharisees. Wait? What?!!  Their righteousness must somehow be better than the professional rule writers and keepers. How could this be possible. Is Jesus trying to rewrite or undo the Law in order for them to have access to the Kingdom?  Well, according to Jesus Himself, absolutely not. Then how can the righteousness of His disciples be greater?  Jesus enlarges the focus of obedience from strictly external to also include internal. It is greater because it is deeper, moving from just behavior to also mind and motive- a “heart righteousness”. The prophets wrote and signaled this truth long before.  “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it;“ Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭33‬ ”I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,“ Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭27‬ ‭

With God’s work and wisdom (His Spirit in us) we now have access and opportunity for the greater righteousness that Jesus teaches.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day five)  

What if you heard these words of Jesus for the first time in the context and culture of the society of Jesus days on earth?

As Jesus continues this sermon,  He speaks directly to His followers.  You are salt. You are light. I doubt they had ever been told they could be of any use in religious matters. Weren’t smart enough. Weren’t righteous enough. Weren’t trained or educated enough. Then all of a sudden, the message is clearly communicated. There is a place for you in the  Kingdom of God. There is a purpose for you in the Kingdom of God. There is potential for you in the growth and mission of the Kingdom of God. What an amazing message for them and for us!!  We have the same place, potential, and purpose in the Kingdom of God right here, right now. This is who we really are. Hear the hope and opportunity for each us in Jesus words-  You are salt!  You are light!  

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day five)

“He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,”
Can you imagine hearing Jesus’ words found in Matthew 5-7 for the very first time?  Having been recently recruited to follow Him.  The intensity of the growing onlookers- continuous healing, teaching, and preaching. Being with Jesus as He retreated from the large crowds. Him sitting down and encouraging/challenging them- reshaping and clarifying the perspective and possibilities of a life that is pleasing to God. It was revolutionary!! There’s hope in these words.  There’s opportunity in these words. There’s wisdom in these words. There’s life in these words.

Let’s look and listen intently for the next 13 weeks at these words. May we come to the same conclusion that Peter did, “Lord… you have words of eternal life.”May we find hope, wisdom, and life from the “Sermon on the Mount”.