Looking for Jesus according to Matthew

[JLG]

20) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 15:

- Jesus calls Pharisees hypocrites quoting Isaiah’s words prophesying about them as people honoring God with their lips but not with their hearts and worshiping God in vain and teaching commands of men as doctrines.

- Here we go again: man’s tradition vs God’s word!

- Who teaches man’s tradition opposes God’s word!

- There is only one option!

- The rest is empty words!

- Think about faithful servants of God!

- What did Job do with man’s tradition?

- What did Daniel do with man’s tradition?

- What did Samuel do with man’s tradition?

- What did Moses do with man’s tradition?

- What did Abraham do with man’s tradition?

- What did Paul do with man’s tradition?

- They had only one reference and it was God and God’s word!

- Nothing else!

 

[JLG]

21) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 15:

- The disciples tells Jesus that the Pharisees are stumbling at his saying!

- But Jesus calls the pharisees blind guides adding that when a blind man guides a blind man they both will fall into a pit!

- WOW! WHAT WORDS!

- And the disciples miss the point!

- How is it possible not to understand that?

- But they needed hard training again and again!

- Is it the same for us?

- Do we study enough?

- Do we read the Bible enough?

- Do we think about the Bible enough?

- Mistakes are not a problem!

- Not thinking about them is a problem!

- Is it possible to stumble because of a word?

- Is that humility?

- Is that the search for God’s WORD?

- Is that how it works to stop being BLIND?

 

[JLG]

22) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 15:

- A Phoenician woman asks Jesus for curing her possessed daughter!

- Jesus doesn’t answer her because she is not a Jewish woman!

- Then his disciples tell Jesus to send her away.

- In fact, he has been sent to the Jews but he finally listens to them and cures her daughter.

- That’s another big difference between Jesus and the religious leaders!

- He is human and he sincerely listens to people!

- He will need the human qualities he could develop when he was on earth!

- And he definitely cares about people!

- But he will also come as a warrior!

- We must not forget that point!

 

[JLG]

23) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 16:

- As usual the Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus to test him!

- they ask him for a sign!

- The religious leaders want to test Jesus!

- They want a sign from him!

- They have seen or heard about all his miracles and they still want a sign from him!

- They will never be satisfied!

- They want to be the masters!

- They don’t want to be the slaves!

- They want people to be their slaves!

- They don’t want to serve people!

- They don’t want to help them!

- They want to serve their selfish interests!

- They are not from God!

- They want to serve themselves!

 

[JLG]

24) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 16:

- Jesus warns people to watch out, not for the leaven of bread, but for the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

- Jesus tells us to be careful about the teaching of religious leaders !

- We should be careful!

- We should do our part of the job!

- We should check carefully what is written in the Bible!

- We should take time to read again and again!

- We should be careful about the small details!

- We must control and not let others think for us!

 

[JLG]

- I think you should contact the staff of the site!

- I think they need money to maintain their site!

- People have the opportunity to express themselves and to defend their faith

 

[JLG]

25) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Matthew 21:

- When the chief priests and the Pharisees hear Jesus’ illustrations, they know that he is speaking about them !

- Although they want to seize him, they fear the crowds because these regard him as a prophet !

- How is it possible that the people regard Jesus as a prophet whereas the religious leaders don’t ?

- In fact, they know who he is !

- But they choose their own interests and power !

- They don’t care about the future !

- They only care about the present !

- The problem is that they decide for the people !

- Or is the problem the fact that the people listen to them instead of going away ?

- Is it possible to keep drinking milk all his life intead of solid food ?

 

[JLG]

26) looking for Jesus

Matthew 4:

- Who doesn’t remember these words from Jesus!

- It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God’s mouth!

- What about: you must not put your God to the test!

- Or: It is your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service!

- Jesus is tempted three times by the devil in the desert !

- And each time Jesus answers him straight away!

- God and nobody else!

- And Jesus will never change of position!

- He will always be the same!

- He came on earth to do his father’s will!

- Nothing else!

 

[JLG]

27) looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus opens his mouth and begins teaching them!

- Jesus never forgets why he is on earth !

- To do his father’s will !

- And thus teaching to people !

- There is nothing more important than that !

- It is easy for men to forget that (as if it was possible to forget such an important mission and the most important one) for secondary jobs !

- Once again, a personal choice !

- But not God’s will !

- And Jesus knows that !

 

[JLG]

28) looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them!

- Jesus connects the fact of being conscious of our spiritual need and the Kingdom of the heavens!

- They are both connected!

- So if we are not conscious of our spiritual need, we can forget God’s kingdom!

- It is as simple as that!

- This society doesn’t care about spiritual need and God’s kingdom!

- It fights against our spiritual need and God’s kingdom!

- It is only interested in developing material need and human society!

- They are opposite visions which have nothing to do together!

- We can’t look for both!

- We can only go after one!

- Once again it is a question of choice!

- It is clear as crystal!

 

[JLG]

29) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted!

- Jesus speaks about two elements or two parts: mourning and being comforted!

- But each one on time and first comes mourning!

- In this world we can only expect mourning!

- We may view it as a training and a preparation and the possibility to grow stronger!

- Of course, it is not easy!

- We must always remember that it is a man’s world and man is a wolf for man!

- We must remember that Job had to go through pain and suffering!

- Daniel had to adapt to a different country and face jealousy and hostility!

- Samuel and Moses and many prophets had to face the “misbehavior” of the Israelites!

- We have to face the “misbehavior” of men!

- Those who survive will see God’s comfort and God won’t tolerate anymore human “misbehavior” or wolf!​

 

[JLG]

30) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth!

mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

1. Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).

- We must follow Jesus as an example!

- He was always able to defend God’s word!

- He always answers back religious leaders!

- He was angry at the merchants selling animals in the temple!

- He was always ready to teach people about God’s word!

- He shows us the way!

- Everything necessary is written!

- We just have to pay attention to his words!

- He was always ready to cure and help people!

 

[JLG]

31) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.

- Righteousness doesn’t belong to this world!

- So it is not something natural!

- We have to learn and develop and keep it!

- In fact, there aren’t many people who hunger and thirst for righteousness!

- So there is a lot of work!

- In fact, we have to learn so many things to fit in God’s kingdom!

- We must remember the example of the Israelites who could never respect God’s covenant!

- In fact, it is a warning!

 

[JLG]

32) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.

- Compassionate!

- Do you see the duality here!

- First, you are and then you will be shown!

- And it is not the reverse!

- It is always a question of balance!

- When there is a problem between two people, they need to walk to each other to solve the problem!

- The Israelites never understood it!

- They never played their part of the covenant!

- Same for humanity!

- It is not possible to wait only!

- Action is required!

 

[JLG]

33) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.

- Jesus is pure in heart!

- His faithfulness to God is complete!

- He stayed faithful till his death!

- Can we show the same faithfulness!

- Or is it according to this world!

- Partial or incomplete!

 

[JLG]

34) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are the peacemakers, since they will be called sons of God.

- We are supposed to tell about God’s word and Jesus’ teaching!

- On time Jesus will come again on earth but this time as a warrior to clean this world!

- it is not our Job but Jesus’!

- In the meantime, we have to do our part!

- We must be active in learning and teaching and not passive!

- Otherwise Jesus will not know us when he comes!

- What do we do for that?

- Anything?

 

[JLG]

35) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them!

- Jesus says happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lying say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake!

- Being persecuted and reproached and being spoken badly!

- And at the same time rejoice and be overjoyed!

- It is quite different from being accepted by the world!

- Thus if Christians are accepted by the world, something is wrong!

- Remember when Christianity became the religion of the Roman empire, it was completely corrupted!

- Do you think it has changed through history!

- Think about all the war between religions!

- Do you think that Jesus will accept such a corruption when he comes back?

- Do you remember what he did when he saw the merchants in his Father’s temple!

- When he comes back, he won’t use a whip!

 

[JLG]

36) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says about his disciples that they are the salt of the earth, if it loses its strength, it is no longer usable for anything except to be thrown outside to be trampled on by men.

- Jesus has the responsibility to make God’s will!

- We have the same responsibility!

- We are God’s workers!

- If we are good to nothing, what is our worth?

- Why should God and Jesus remember us?

- Think about a world without salt!

- Whenever you try to dig, you find corruption!

- Everywhere you get man’s tradition vs God’s word!

- Find the mistake!

- The mistake is everywhere!

- No more salt or salt without taste!

- What do you want?

 

[JLG]

37) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus says about his disciples that they are the light of the world. When people light a lamp and set it on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house!

- So Jesus tells his disciples to let their light shine before men, so that they may see their fine works and give glory to God!

- Light!

- Lamp!

- It shines!

- Fine works and give glory to God!

- Yes, the best way to give glory to God is by doing fine works like Jesus!

- It doesn’t mean sleeping peacefully!

- We must be active and represent God and Jesus!

- We must speak about God’s word!

- People must know!

- Yes, being a disciple and a hard worker!

- We can’t stay in the dark!

 

[JLG]

38) Looking for Jesus

Matthew 5:

- Jesus explains he has come to fulfill the Law!

- He adds that to enter God’s Kingdom people’s righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees!

- The Law written by Moses showed that the Israelites and the Jews were nor able to follow it!

- It’s like when we remember Jesus speaking about the religious leaders saying something and doing something else!

- Yes, do and teach!

- Yes, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was poor!

- And we have to do a lot more then that!

- It must come from the heart!

- Yes, we must breathe God’s word every day!

- It must penetrate every cell of our bodies!

- It must go though all the interconnections of our brain cells!

- Then we will be able to open many doors which we can find in the Bible!

- Yes, our heart must grow and grow!

- Yes, we must learn and tell every day!

- But it doesn’t mean being extremist!

- Simply normal people who have to act and play their part!