The Friday Update--May 1

Good morning,

This week we will finish Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in Matthew’s gospel. I would like to spend time talking about verses 24-27 of chapter 7.

Our Lord starts with these words, “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock ... and everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” (Matthew 7:24,26)

Here we have two men who have been given the same information. However, one of them is a wise man and the other a fool. What separates them? The wise man applies what he knows and the fool does not.

This parable brings our Lord’s sermon to a close. However, before He finishes He gives a stark warning to all willing to listen—apply this knowledge to your life.

Three other times in this gospel Christ does this same thing, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” In short, our Lord is chiding us, saying something to the effect of, ‘Listen to me—this is very important!’

Parents do the same thing with a child crossing the street. They know if the child does not understand, ‘look both ways before you cross the street’, they could get hit by a car. The Lord is doing the same thing here.

The Son of God then gives a visual analogy. He refers to the builder of a house and the foundation used for constructing that home. If it is a poor foundation the home will not last. However, a good one will endure even the worst of storms to come. 

In the same way our lives must be built on a solid foundation, the Rock of Jesus Christ. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:25)

The difference between the two men’s houses is vast. The home of the wise man stood firm when the storms came; not so with the foolish man. His fell “and great was the fall.” 

May the Holy Spirit take our Lord’s words and apply them to your heart.  

Steve 

Bible Reading Plan—Week 33

DAY 1—Matthew 7:1-6 

DAY 2—Matthew 7:7-11

DAY 3—Matthew 7:12-20 

DAY 4—Matthew 7:21-23

DAY 5—Matthew 7:24-29

Good morning,

We will continue this week through ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ into chapter 6. My intent is to look at some key verses that reveal the heart of a ‘born again’ Christian.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth … but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.”—(Matthew 6:19-20) What does our Lord mean by ‘treasures on earth’ versus ‘treasures in heaven?’ The difference is temporal things compared to eternal things.

In other words once we die all of our possessions, earthly achievements, and notoriety will vanish. We cannot take them with us; they are of this earth. These may impress mankind, but they don’t impress our Holy God.

What will go with us is what we did with the time, talent, and treasure Jesus gave to us. Did we live for ourselves or for the Kingdom of God? “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) Obedience to God is critical. 

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”—(Matthew 6:22) The ESV study Bible says of this verse, ‘The eye (or heart) is a lamp that reveals the quality of a person’s inner life. A healthy eye suggests loyal devotion to God.’

We can hide thoughts and desires from other people, but not from God. He knows every thought we think and every desire we have. On the day of Judgement it will all be revealed and we will be accountable for all we thought, said, and did.

No one can serve two masters. … you will hate the one and love the other …”—this refers to who is the master of our lives? Is it God or something else? If it is not God then it is an idol. The Bible is very clear that we are to have only one master, Jesus Christ.

Then our Lord takes this even further, defining this ‘master.’ “You cannot serve both God and money.” The obvious reality is that money is a false god to so many people. 

They don’t bow down to it at a temple, but they do bow down to it with their heart. Paul tells us this same thing. It is not money that is evil, but rather it is, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:10) 

So how are you doing as you compare your life to Christ’s standards? No one is expected to be perfect, but we are expected to be “fighting the good fight of faith.”  

May God bless your reading of His Word this week. 

Steve 

Bible Reading Plan—Week 32

DAY 1—Matthew 6:1-6

DAY 2—Matthew 6:7-13

DAY 3—Matthew 6:14-21

DAY 4—Matthew 6:22-27

DAY 5—Matthew 6:28-34