October 8 - Matthew 4-6
This passage has two distinct sections, but they are related to each other. In chapter 4 we see Jesus in the wilderness after His baptism being tempted by Satan to change His mission from the Father. He does not change at all, but He leaves there preaching a simple message of repentance "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (4:12) Jesus is focused on bringing in the kingdom of God. Then, in chapters 5 and 6 as we begin the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus explaining the kingdom to a multitude and to His disciples. This is all in line with Matthew 4:19 where Jesus tells His disciples that He will make them "fishers of men." In the Sermon on the Mount He is practicing what He is preaching. How about us, are we focused on our mission from God? Are we focused on God's kingdom or on the kingdoms of this world? We must listen closely to the Sermon on the Mount to have the right perspective on life.
Even though I have studied this passage many times, the Lord showed me something new this morning. Jesus wants everyone to understand how to be blessed as He shows in the Beatitudes. (5:1-12) However, Jesus also introduces the concept of receiving rewards in Heaven from God in verse 12. In fact, He says "great is your reward", which even implies degrees of rewards. Why does He bring this up? We aren't suppose to serve Him just for the rewards, are we? No, we are to serve Jesus out of our love for Him, but He knows human nature. He knows that we respond positively to rewards, so that we learn things we need to do whether we get a reward or not. Isn't that how we train our children? God does the same for us.
How do we get these rewards? The rest of the passage says that we must stay away from the evil things and do the right things as well as giving Jesus' definition of each one. It is very insightful. We must stay away from hate (murder), lust (adultery), and oaths (deception). We must practice charity, love of our enemies, prayer, and fasting. If we do these things in each case, we are promised a reward. Then, in verse 19-21 Jesus tells us about treasures in heaven. I always thought that was the good things I did in life that would last for eternity. Now, I believe that they are God's rewards that He sets aside for He because I sought His kingdom by focusing on these things He says are important. This even fits with the fact in verse 24 that we can't serve both God and money and with the admonition not to worry about temporal needs like food and clothes. We must keep our focus on God's kingdom, and He will bless us here and in heaven. This helps me see even more that I can't choose what I think is important to do. I must follow the Lord's direction. I must have His priorities. Then, He will bless me and reward me in heaven.
This is not to say that this is an exhaustive list of things to stay away from or of things to do for which there is a reward. It is to say that Jesus seems to be teaching this principle in this passage. We should read all of the rest of the Old Testament and the New Testament to find what God hates and God loves, so we can build these things into our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 7-9.
Even though I have studied this passage many times, the Lord showed me something new this morning. Jesus wants everyone to understand how to be blessed as He shows in the Beatitudes. (5:1-12) However, Jesus also introduces the concept of receiving rewards in Heaven from God in verse 12. In fact, He says "great is your reward", which even implies degrees of rewards. Why does He bring this up? We aren't suppose to serve Him just for the rewards, are we? No, we are to serve Jesus out of our love for Him, but He knows human nature. He knows that we respond positively to rewards, so that we learn things we need to do whether we get a reward or not. Isn't that how we train our children? God does the same for us.
How do we get these rewards? The rest of the passage says that we must stay away from the evil things and do the right things as well as giving Jesus' definition of each one. It is very insightful. We must stay away from hate (murder), lust (adultery), and oaths (deception). We must practice charity, love of our enemies, prayer, and fasting. If we do these things in each case, we are promised a reward. Then, in verse 19-21 Jesus tells us about treasures in heaven. I always thought that was the good things I did in life that would last for eternity. Now, I believe that they are God's rewards that He sets aside for He because I sought His kingdom by focusing on these things He says are important. This even fits with the fact in verse 24 that we can't serve both God and money and with the admonition not to worry about temporal needs like food and clothes. We must keep our focus on God's kingdom, and He will bless us here and in heaven. This helps me see even more that I can't choose what I think is important to do. I must follow the Lord's direction. I must have His priorities. Then, He will bless me and reward me in heaven.
This is not to say that this is an exhaustive list of things to stay away from or of things to do for which there is a reward. It is to say that Jesus seems to be teaching this principle in this passage. We should read all of the rest of the Old Testament and the New Testament to find what God hates and God loves, so we can build these things into our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 7-9.