Matthew 5:13-48

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

You Are The Salt

A Sugar Hypocrite vs. A Salty Christian.

*A sugar hypocrite says “Let me tell you bout’ my problems”.

A salty Christian says “Let me tell you bout’ my Jesus!” *

You Are The Light

Jesus Is The Light

John 8:12

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

You Have Heard

• You shall not murder.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• If you divorce, give her a certificate of divorce.
• You shall not swear falsely.
• An eye for an eye.
• Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

I Say

• Everyone who is angry with his brother is liable to judgement.
• Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed
• adultery in his heart.
• Everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality
• makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits
• adultery
• Let what you say be simply Yes or No.
• If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Be Perfect As Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect

“Perfect” Greek= telos: End, purpose, goal, completion, fulfillment

The Heart Is…

1. The heart is the inner most place of my will, emotions, and personality, and
2. nature.
3. Psalm 44:21
4. would not God discover this?
5. For he knows the secrets of the heart.
6. God knows the secrets of our heart.
7. I Cor 14:25
8. 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
9. The heart is born sick.
10. Jer 17:9
11. The heart is deceitful above all things,
12. and desperately sick;
13. who can understand it?
14. Mark 7:21-23
15. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
16. The heart is the faith place.
17. Rom 10:10
18. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
19. As the sick heart believes and surrenders, God heals.
20. Psalm 51:10 (chapter after Nathan speaks to David)
21. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
22. and renew a right spirit within me.
23. Ezekiel 36: 26
24. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
25. Is 57:15
26. For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
27. who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
28. “I dwell in the high and holy place,
29. and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
30. to revive the spirit of the lowly,
31. and to revive the heart of the contrite.
32. God can help us protect our new heart.
33. Prov 4:23
34. Keep your heart with all vigilance,
35. for from it flow the springs of life.

Sin breaks God’s heart but obedience from the heart that produces holy living lifts an aroma of sweet worship before our Savior.