Matthew 5 - January 5th, 2024

Good morning.

My name is Nathan, and I'm one of the pastors here at Church of the Grove, and we're so thankful that you're joining us today as we journey through the Gospels together.

We'll be using the acronym BRED for our time today, which stands for Breathe, Read, Encounter, Apply, and Devote.

As we approach the scriptures today, let's remember that we're not called coming to gain more information, but we are wanting to have an encounter with a personal God.

He tells us in his word that we will seek him and will find him when we search for him with all of our heart.

So, as we enter into his presence this morning, believe that he wants to meet you with you where you are today.

While you may listen to this on a commute or while you're doing something around the house, I would strongly encourage you to set aside some time to go and be in a place where you can totally focus on being with the Lord.

I would suggest having a journal and a pen handy so that you can take notes for anything the Lord might be saying to you.

And with that, let's open up the scriptures to today's assigned passage.

Before we begin reading today, let's first begin by breathing.

Let's be silent with Jesus for a few moments.

And let's just pay attention to him.

Make sure you remove as many distractions as you can and just take a minute in this stillness to just be with Jesus.

Focus your whole self on the Lord this morning.

Maybe even open up your hands to him.

And then take a deep breath in.

And then exhale out.

Maybe take another breath in.

And then exhale out.

Calming your spirit.

And then just ask for the Holy Spirit to come and to be with you and to lead you as you begin to read through the scriptures together.

And as we read through this passage today, just ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what he wants to say, what maybe sticks out, what grabs your attention.

If you have a pen or a pencil, take a moment, write it down, underline it in your Bible.

And let's read together Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

One day, as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down.

His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those hearts who are pure, for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you, and all say all sorts of evil things against you, because you are my followers.

Be happy about it, be very glad, for I great reward awaits you in heaven.

And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted for the same thing.

You are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it's lost its flavor?

Can you make it salty again?

It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Don't misunderstand why I have come.

I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets.

No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

But any one who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

But I warn you, unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that our ancestors were told, You must not murder.

If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment.

If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court, and if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar.

Go and be reconciled to that person, then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

When you are on your way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly, otherwise your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.

You have heard the commandment that says, You must not commit adultery, but I say, Any one who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

So if your eye, even your good eye, causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell, and if your hand, even your stronger hand, causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

You have heard the law that says a man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.

But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

You have also heard that our ancestors were told, You must not break your vows, you must carry out the vows you make with the Lord.

But I say, Do not make any vows.

Do not say by heaven, because heaven is God's throne, and do not say by earth, because the earth is his footstool, and do not say by Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is the city of the great king.

Do not even say by my head, for you can't turn one hair white or black.

Just say a simple yes I will, or no I won't.

Anything beyond this is a from the evil one.

You have heard the law that says that punishment must match the injury, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But I say, Do not resist an evil person.

If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too.

If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.

You have heard the law that says love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say, Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.

In that way you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven, for he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?

Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?

Even the pagans do that.

But you are to be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

This is the word of the Lord.

As we asked before, we're trying to determine what the Holy Spirit may be saying to us through his word.

And so we're now moving into the encounter phase of the morning.

So take a moment and think through what verse or verses that the Holy Spirit might have led you to.

What stands out to you today?

What's something that resonated with your soul?

As you think about that verse, just ask the Lord, what are you trying to tell me?

What are you saying to me, God?

Does this verse or passage make you feel a certain way?

Does something jump out?

Does it stir some emotions within you?

What do you think the Lord is trying to say to you?

If you have a pen or some journal of some kind, maybe even take a moment and write a short reflection of what the Lord might be trying to say to you now.

Let's now move to applying the scriptures to our lives this morning.

As the Lord has maybe spoken to you already, now we're turning our focus outward and we're thinking about how we might actually practically live out what God has been saying to us today.

So ask the Holy Spirit now for just wisdom.

Ask, how should you apply this to your life today?

Spend a moment thinking and praying through that, just focusing on the Holy Spirit giving you wisdom and guidance.

Again, if you have paper and pen, I would encourage you to write this down.

And take some moments and time just to write a simple prayer of devotion to the Lord.

What do you need to say to him?

What do you need from him this morning?

Just write that down as you devote yourself fully to him today.

Don't rush through what the Lord might be saying and speaking to you this morning.

But I do pray that today, as you go throughout your day, that the Lord would fill you with hope and joy and peace as you commit your day to Him.

Thank you so much for joining me today for our reading.

And please join us again tomorrow for our next reading.