Matthew (Program #25) – The Continuation of the King’s Ministry (1)

In Matthew 5, 6 and 7, the Lord Jesus gave a long and detailed speaking regarding the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens.  These well-known passage concludes with these words; “And when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astounded at His teaching, For He taught them as One having authority and not like their scribes.  And when He came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him. ”  This is our message today, as we have a turning point in the gospel of Matthew; the ministry of the King continues.

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Matthew (Program #24) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (12)

Matthew chapter 5, 6 and 7 are chapters of the Bible that are often quoted, even by unbelievers because their thought of, is chapters containing marvelous ethical, even philosophical thought.  But a careful examination reveals this portion of Scripture to be far beyond mere human philosophy or ethics.  Those things as well as the very best man can master are scraped away by the narrow and constricted path leading to the kingdom of the heavens.

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Matthew (Program #23) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (11)

In order for us to live under the heavenly ruling of the kingdom, we must be very careful in dealing with others.  Matthew chapters 5 and 6 touch things deep within ourselves; like our temper and lust, even our anxiety about  riches.  But chapter 7 brings us to the crucial matter of how we deal with other people.

As we once again consider the account in Matthew and how much the Lord cares for the way we handle other people.

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Matthew (Program #22) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (10)

Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  This simple expression is full of meaning.  If we expect to get our heart on heaven and on the heavenly things, we need to get our treasure there first.

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Matthew (Program #21) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (9)

Matthew 6:1 says “but take heed not to do your righteousness before men in order to be gazed at by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens.”   It then goes on to list three activities that were frequently done by the religious people of that day in public; to pray, to give alms to the poor and to fast.  But the Lord’s encouragement to His people is to do these things in secret where only He can see.

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Matthew (Program #20) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (8)

For centuries, Christians have not had a clear understanding of the law.  On the one had Romans and Galatians tell us that the law is over.  For example, Romans 10:4 says “Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Base on verses like that a lot of Christians thinks that we can ignore the law altogether…

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Matthew (Program #19) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (7)

In the Old Testament law it was unlawful for a man to commit murder or to commit adultery.   But in the gospel of Matthew, in the New Testament even to hate someone or just to look upon someone with lust is to fall short of the standard of the kingdom of the heavens.

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Matthew (Program #18) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (6)

Matthew 5:17 says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”  Yet in other places in the New Testament we are told that the law has been done away with.   This has made the subject of the law a subject of great controversy and debate on Christians for hundreds of years.  In the Old Testament it was clear that God dealt with His people through the principle of the law.  But in the New Testament that principle has been replaced by the principle of faith.  So does that mean that the believers now has no obligations to conduct themselves according to the high standard of Scriptures?

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Matthew (Program #17) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (5)

The teaching and preaching in the gospel of Matthew concerning the kingdom begins with repentance; “Repent for the kingdom of the heavens is drawn near”.  To repent is to have a complete change of mind.  After dealing with our mind however, the kingdom then becomes a matter of our spirit; “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens” and finally “blessed are the pure in heart”.

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Matthew (Program #16) – The Decree of the Kingdom’s Constitution (4)

We’ve often heard a person described as the salt of the earth.  It’s become a very common term use to describe someone of solid and dependable character.  Actually this term comes from the New Testament gospel of Matthew and it along with it’s companion verse “you are the light of the world” are used specifically to describe not just people of character but actually those people who are fit to inhabit the kingdom of the heavens.

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