Jesus says not to break promises (Matthew 5: 33-37)

Bible Summary:

Jesus tells the crowd at the Sermon on the Mount to not break a promise or swear a vow by God or heaven, just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

My Thoughts:

Promises: Jesus distinguishes between a vow and a promise. It seems a vow – where you swear to God – is much more binding, though we are still not to break our promises. I guess if you promise something, you can get out of it for extenuating reasons, but a vow you must do everything in your power to complete it – including risking your life.

Military, Firefighters and Police: I guess the best examples are the men and women who serve in the military and as firefighters and police officers. They have made a vow to protect the citizens and are willing to risk their lives. They do not run away, but push through the fear to save others. Thank you all for this vow to keep us safe!

Jesus teaches about adultery and divorce (Matthew 5: 27-32)

Bible Summary:

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that even looking at a woman and wanting to possess her is committing adultery. He then says if your right eye or hand causes you to sin, then you should throw it away. It is better to lose an eye or limb instead of having your whole body thrown into hell.  He also says a married person can only divorce if his or her spouse is unfaithful; otherwise the person is guilty of causing the spouse to commit adultery.

My Thoughts:

Marriage is Sacred: Jesus makes a very graphic point about married people not looking at (pluck your eyes out) or touching (cut off your hands) other people than their spouse. He also says divorce is only justified if the other person is unfaithful.

Obviously, marriage was very sacred back then and adultery was a crime punishable by stoning. What a dramatic difference to our day-in-age where over half the marriages end in divorce. I guess the couples are “punished” through divorce court and are a little more cautious the second time around.

Communication: Remember when you first met and just could not stand being away from each other. You asked all about your spouse-to-be: family history; likes and dislikes; favorite color, movie, flowers, sweets, etc. You asked questions, you probed to find out his or her hopes, dreams, and concerns. You listened intently – to every word.

We grow comfortable in marriage, many times too comfortable where we plop down on the couch exhausted after a long day at work and shuttling the kids to activities, too tired to even speak. We turn on the TV and “tune out” until bedtime. If this is you, make changes today.

  • Sneak a love note in her purse.
  • Schedule time alone with him. Yes – I said “schedule” and stick to the appointment like “having to” take the kids to practice.
  • Turn off the TV at least once a week.
  • I’ll have to come up with some more ideas later, but you get the point.

Jesus teaches about anger (Matthew 5: 21-26)

Bible Summary:

Jesus tells the crowd at the Sermon on the Mount that anger is as bad as murder. He warns that calling your brother names can put you in danger of going to hell. It is so important to make peace with your brother that you are to leave the altar to reconcile and then return to offer your gift to God. He also advises to settle any lawsuit before it gets to court or you will go to jail until you pay the whole fine.

My Thoughts:

Anger: Jesus warns us that we will go to hell for our anger. Anger can actually be a living hell for the people who experience the wrath and the person who is angry. The angry person may experience remorse after the incident, but the scars continue long after for the victims. They can become unsure, risk averse, compliant and allow people to walk all over them. They may even continue the cycle and become angry people too, perpetuating the abuse for generations to come. If you have a problem, please seek help now. At least, study anger management books or sign up for a class. If that does not work, then seek professional help. It is worth it for your friends, family, colleagues, and generations to come.

Jesus says to follow God’s Laws (Matthew 5: 17-20)

Bible Summary:

Jesus tells the crowd at the Sermon on the Mount they must continue to obey the Laws of Moses and teachings of the prophets if they wish to enter heaven. They must follow the Laws faithfully and do what God requires.

My Thoughts:

Laws of Morality: Every community and religion covers the basic laws of morality like not lying or stealing. These and the other Ten Commandments are the laws that Jesus refers to that people are to follow.

Jesus says you are like salt and light (Matthew 5: 13-16)

Bible Summary:

Jesus tells the crowd at the Sermon on the Mount they are like salt for all mankind and a light for the whole world. “Your light must shine before people, so they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven”

My Thoughts:

Salt and Light: Salt brings out the goodness in foods during cooking. Light shines for all to see. Salt also preserves foods for a long time. So, show your goodness for all to see. Be the example they can follow to preserve mankind forever.

Jesus gives us the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12)

Bible Summary:

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes:

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  • Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
  • Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

– From the English Standard Version Bible at Bible.com which is how I know it.

My Thoughts:

Doing right can be hard, but rewarding: In less than 150 words, Jesus touches each person’s heart, since they had experienced at least one of the characteristics – poor in spirit, mourning, meek, and hunger or thirst; teaches them how to behave – merciful, pure of heart, peaceful, and righteous; and warns them that doing right can cause others to revile and persecute them, but they will be rewarded in heaven.

Foreshadowing: the last part about persecuted prophets describes the past but also foreshadows what will happen to Jesus and the apostles.

Jesus calls, preaches, and heals (Matthew 4: 18-25)

Bible Summary:

Jesus walks along Lake Galilee, sees two brothers Simon Peter and Andrew catching fish, and tells them to join him so they can catch men. They leave at once with Jesus. Later, they meet James and John readying their nets in a boat with their father Zebedee. Jesus calls them and they too leave with him.

Jesus preaches the Good News all over Galilee and heals people of many diseases. News spreads throughout Syria and people bring him all who are sick – and Jesus heals them all. Large crowds follow him around the ten towns near Jerusalem.

My Thoughts:

When God Calls: Jesus calls these four men and they drop everything to join him. When God calls we need to drop everything and follow Him. The challenge today is hearing Him above all the other choices.

Whole Healing: Jesus heals both body and soul of the people around Jerusalem. He shows us that wellness is related as much to mental wellbeing as physical health. Lifting people’s spirits likely touched more people and did more good than the physical healing, though the latter gets more press because “proof” is in seeing.

Jesus Begins to Preach (Matthew 4: 12-17)

Bible Summary:

Jesus hears that John the Baptist is imprisoned so he flees from Nazareth to Capernaum, near Lake Galilee. This location matches what prophet Isaiah foretold and is the land of the people who live in darkness that will see a great light, the Gentiles. Jesus begins to preach his message, “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near.”

My Thoughts:

Prophecies: Jesus matching so many prophecies (born in Bethlehem, flees to Egypt so they can say he came out of Egypt, lives in Nazareth, moves to Galilee) sure seems too convenient, like Matthew “fit” Jesus into the criteria of the Messiah.

The Message: Jesus begins preaching in Galilee, telling people to turn away from their sinful behavior in his campaign to teach people to be kind to each other and do right.

People do not like to be told they are wrong and especially when they are doing wrong, even though in their hearts they know it is true. Take a look today, inside at the thoughts that come up and outside at the things that are done or said. Be the witness to your own behavior and decide if you have room for improvement. I know I have areas where I continue to struggle, so keep the faith and with God’s help we can beat them together. Peace.

Temptations of Christ (Matthew 4: 1-11)

Bible Summary:

Jesus goes to the desert for forty days and nights without food. The Devil comes along and tempts him three times to prove he is the Son of God.

  • First, since Jesus is hungry, the Devil challenges him to make bread out of stones. Jesus says people cannot live on bread alone, but also need the word of God.
  • Then, the Devil takes Jesus to the top of the highest temple in Jerusalem and tells him to jump so the angels will catch him. Jesus tells him not to put God to the test.
  • Last, the Devil takes Jesus to the highest mountain and offers him all the kingdoms of the world if he will just worship the Devil. Jesus commands Satan to go away since we are to worship God and serve only Him.

My Thoughts:
Three Temptations of Life: I believe these temptations of christ are like the food, fame, and riches of today.

  • Food: Bread, signifying food in general, is not enough to sustain life. We also need to nourish our souls with spiritual and social interactions. Food cares for our body, but worship and relationships care for our mental health.
  • Fame and Foolishness: I have a couple interpretations of the Devil tempting Jesus to jump off the temple. First is fame, which is a great temptation of today. Many famous people have reached the peak of their careers only to plummet because they are not grounded spiritually. In other words, they do not have angels to catch them so when they test God they fail.
  • Another interpretation is foolishness, or showing off to gain the approval of others. Many teens fit this profile, thinking they are invincible and doing foolish things that put their lives and others’ at risk.  But, sometimes the angels are not there to catch them either. Case in point is an 18-year-old who fell 60 feet to his death at Old Man’s Cave in Logan, Ohio last weekend because he was playing around off the path (Man falls to his death at Old Man’s Cave story at the Circleville Herald).  Please stay on the path and be safe.
  • Riches: The devil offers Jesus all the riches of the world if he will worship him. People that worship money discover at the end of their lives that it really was not worth it. Many forsake family and friends for their riches, but ultimately learn that we all come into this world with nothing and leave this world the same way.

John baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3: 13-17)

Bible Summary:

Jesus arrives at the Jordan River to be baptized by John. John says he should be baptized by him instead. Jesus tells him to continue as God requires. John agrees and baptizes him. As Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends on him. Then God says from heaven, “This is my Son, with whom I am pleased.”

My Thoughts:

Within a couple of pages, Matthew’s story of Jesus jumps from birth in Bethlehem to rebirth in adulthood through baptism in the Jordan River. One is the birth into the realm of our physical world and the other a birth into the spiritual world.

I believe we make the transition from childhood to adulthood at the point that we experience this connection with the spiritual world.

  • It is the time that we realize life is more than our job, our possessions, our wants and our needs.
  • It is the time that we truly see the beauty in everything and everyone around us.
  • It is the time that we look around and see how we can make this a better place.
  • It is the time that we stop pushing others aside and give them a hand instead.
  • It is the time that we realize we are part of a greater good, a greater being.
  • It is the time when we are filled with joy and harmony and nothing can take its place.

And, God is pleased.