“But I say to you…” (Matthew 5:22 a NASB)
What I am about to share with you this Wednesday morning is profitable, for I am just going to present you with profound words spoken by Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). All the excerpts I will be presenting come from the New American Standard Bible because of its high ranking in terms of word-for-word translation. Think of Jesus’ profound words, like a pair of shoes best fitting for you to step through life. See those same shoes laced with a truth that is characterized with unbreakable, unable to be untied principles for living, perfect for keeping your feet plodding along in picture-perfect harmony with His precepts. What He said was… (Repeat those bold, underlined words you just read before every excerpt below.)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing, shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool, shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
“Now it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
“Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”
“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.”
“Or where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the peck out of your brother’s eye!”
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
What you have just read is not by any means the entire Sermon on the Mount. I implore you to read it all. And when you are finished, be like those who listened to this great sermon from the Master, a message that gives us precepts for living. They were amazed at His teachings. Abide by this formula, “Listen, Learn, and Live.” Have a great day my friends! React to “What He Said Was…” appropriately, not hampered by any excuse, exception, or explanation that renders you incapable of abiding by His words and walking in those figurative shoes described above. Be blessed!
Mark L. King