Matthew 5:17-20

 

Matthew 5:17-20

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or The Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill Them! For assuredly (truthfully), I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is Fulfilled!” JESUS Fulfilled The Law and The Prophets by living a sinless life and Obediently going to the cross to take upon Himself our sins and die in our place (Romans 10:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:17-21).

 

:19-20 “Whoever therefore breaks the least of one of these Commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least  in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them shall be called Great in the Kingdom of Heaven. So I say to you, that unless your Righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and  Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” First JESUS tells us that He came to Fulfill The Law, which He did by His Life, Death and Resurrection. The Word of GOD is never ending (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35)! So, yes we must keep The Commandments, not just the Ten Commandments but the 50 commandments that JESUS gave us (John 8:28-32). Also JESUS tells us that we have to have true Righteousness, not the self-righteousness of the religious leaders this can only happen if we live in The righteousness that we get from JESUS (Romans 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21 because of 1 Corinthians 15:57). How you ask? (John 8:28-32).

 

https://youtu.be/HnxRKwE3Upo

The Timing Of GOD!

 

The Timing Of JEHOVAH’s Will!

The Timing Of The Father’s Purpose!

 

The greatest issue Christians have is JEHOVAH’s Timing! Everything that happens, happens in JEHOVAH’s Timing according to His Will (2 Peter 3:7-13)! For the most part we do not struggle with The Father’s Purpose in fulfilling JEHOVAH’s Will, especially when He has revealed His Purpose to us. It is JEHOVAH’s timing in bringing to fruition His Purpose in our life and ministry, in Israel, our nation and the world (Zechariah 14:5-7; Matthew 24:35-36; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)!

 

JEHOVAH ELOHIM has a Purpose for everyone and everything in creation; He set it all in motion when He created everything (Genesis 1). Our Heavenly Father who formed us in our mother’s womb has a Plan and Purpose for every human-being (Psalm 139:13-18)! It is up to us to seek Him for His Plan for our life so we can fulfill His Purpose by Obedient Service (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 6:33).

 

For most of us the process is long and arduous! We want it to happen easily and quickly, but that is not GOD’s way (Isaiah 55:8-9). Just study the lives of His servants that we see in The Bible; study the lives of the early Church as found in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

 

We pray for the Grace to endure to the end (to be an overcomer; Matthew 10:21-33)! So that GOD’s Will and Purpose for and through us is fulfilled! But we do not want to endure the process and timing that it takes. We want the Good Life (wide road leading to the easy gate) not the difficult road leading to the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

JEHOVAH is Eternal, which is timeless, He has always been and always will be (Psalm 90:1-2)! So His Plans for us are bigger then the time frame that we exist in (Revelation 4:11)! As best as we understand by GOD’s Word this creation is to last for seven thousand years and we are quickly approaching the last thousand. So JESUS expecting us to endure (overcome) during the 120 years (Genesis 6:3) GOD promised us life for is not really that hard. Especially since we waste most of what we actually live not being Saved.

 

https://youtu.be/8I4sIddO1Ec

Matthew 5:13-16

 

Matthew 5:13-16

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:13”You are the Salt of the earth; but if the sault loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

JESUS continues His Teachings going from our being Blessed when we are persecuted for His Name and sake. Regular salt is a mineral that is used to preserve and to season, its modern uses include prevention of icing on roadways during freezing weather.

How does that apply to the Christian Life? The Church is to have a preserving effect on our communities and countries. The Church is to be an integral part of society having a positive effect on the lives of Christians and non-Christians. We are to preserve morality and integrity everywhere we live, work and play; we should be having such a positive effect that those around us want to be like us!

So how do we lose our saltiness? When Christians do not get involved with the issues of their society and government, then we lose our saltiness; we become tasteless and undesirable to those around us. If you are a Christian you have to be a Christian everywhere you go! Your opinion does not count if you do not express it to people who might not agree; true influence comes from honest discussions about morality and integrity, but only if our lifestyle matches our words! Like JESUS, we have to live our words!

 

:14-16 “You are the light of the world! A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden! Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your Light so Shine before men that they may see your Good Works and Glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Everyone understands that Light drives out darkness, the brighter the Light the fewer shadows and shades there are for sin to hide in.

This is the same theme as the salt, we first must be lit, there are many dim lights and bright lights that take away from The Gospel Message and some of them are in the Church! Our Life is to be a Light to the lost to draw them out of the darkness of sin. If we are not bright with the Light of GOD’s SPIRIT and Word then we are not doing what JESUS is telling us we should be doing!

So how do we get our lamp lit? By Believing in JESUS as The Son of GOD Who takes away the sins of the world (that is everybody’s sins – if they Believe and Confess Romans 10:8-13). When we Repent (confess our sins and stop sinning) and Believe in JESUS CHRIST as our Savior, then GOD The Father gives us His SPIRIT to live in us (John 14:15-18; 2 Corinthians 6:11-18). Then we must read and study The Bible so that we can know GOD and what He expects of us as his Children and Servants (Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 13:9, 20:20).

 

https://youtu.be/RnqqYyd-SrI

Peace In Israel?!

 

Peace In Israel?!

 

Today there is no Peace in Israel except what individuals have in their heart because of their relationship with MESSIAH YESHUA.

 

But be watching for the Day of Peace that will soon be upon Israel and the whole world! A unified group of nations will bring Peace to the Middle-East and to the world. This will be exciting and bring a time of great prosperity to all the nations. This is the sign of Daniel’s prophecy that soon the man of sin (anti-christ) will rise to rule Israel and the nations.

 

As we watch what is happening in all the nations of the world it is hard to believe there could be Peace. But it will happen! Out of all this conflict a group of world leaders will emerge who will negotiate Peace. But this peace will not last long and one leader (who survives a head wound) will lift himself above the rest and take over the government of the world.*

 

These are the signs that we as Christians and servants of GOD in the earth should be looking for. This is the sign that the world will be oppressed and ruled by force or persecuted to death for a short period of time (about three and one half years). During this time the world will return to chaos, wars, pestilence and famine will be everywhere. Those who oppose the anti-christ and his false prophet (religious leader) will be rejected and murdered; anarchists, Christians and Jews especially.

 

But MESSIAH YESHUA comes and destroys the anti-christ, his false prophet and all their army that will be attacking Jerusalem.

 

If this does not make sense to you do not worry, we cannot make sense of GOD, we can only Watch to Know the signs of the time in which we live as YESHUA command us, Trust Him to accomplish all that He says and Obey His SPIRIT and His Word (The Bible). Then no matter what happens to us we know that we are in His Eternal Kingdom and we will be with Him!

 

* In 2015 – 2016 Republican Primary of the Presidential Candidates, I noticed Donald J Trump destroying the professional, experienced candidates one by one. He arose the victor and against all odds and cheating of those who opposed him, he won the Presidency. His enemies fought against him every day of his Presidency and after because of the fear his intelligence, his common sense and his ability to win the people’s hearts and minds. So they cheated and beat him in 2020, but for all their trying they could not defeat him in the hearts and minds of the citizens of America. For everything they did to him and his family and his friends only made him more popular. They could not cheat (and they tried) enough to defeat him in 2024 so now he is President again; and his authority and power are increasing.

 

In 2016 as I watched Trump I told my family and close friends that I thought That Trump could become the anti-christ. Now after all that has happened over the last twelve years, especially the two known assignation attempts, I believe it even more. Do not get me wrong, I voted for him three times and I would again because of what he stands for, for America; a strong, healthy, stable economic and military power in the world. This is good for America, Israel and the world. I am not saying that Donald J. Trump is the anti-christ, but that he could be. I do not currently seen any other world leader in government or economics that could rise to that lever of worldwide authority and power.

 

https://youtu.be/Up8RxwvDv_A

Does Purgatory Exist?

 

Does Purgatory Exist?

 

Everyone dies and when we die our body decays but our being (spirit and soul) lives, the question is where do we go when we die?

 

Luke 16:19-31 is the story JESUS told of Lazarus and the rich man, in this story after both the rich man and Lazarus have died there is a conversation between the rich man and Abraham. It shows that there is a great divide between Abraham’s bosom (Upper Sheol* or Paradise)  where the righteous went upon death and lower Sheol where the unrighteous went upon death. Many religions have similar teachings about life after death and heaven and hell.

 

In Luke 4:16-21 JESUS proclaimed that He fulfilled Isaiah 61:1-3

 

In Ephesians 4:7-10 Paul tells us that JESUS fulfilled Psalm 68:17-18.

 

In Revelation 1:17-18 JESUS has the keys of death and hell fulfilling Isaiah 42:5-7.

 

Matthew 25:41 Hell!

 

Matthew 27:51-53, the dead rose when JESUS rose!

 

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 To be absent from the flesh is to be with JESUS!

 

So since JESUS fulfilled the prophecies about setting the captives free (those who were in Sheol waiting for The Messiah to come and judge them for Heaven or hell) there is no longer a question about purgatory. Since CHRIST’s Resurrection when a person dies they go straight to the presence of GOD for Judgment (remember judgment is only bad if you have rejected GOD, judgment is good for those who served GOD and enter into Heaven)!**

 

* In the Hebrew Bible, Sheol is generally portrayed as a place where all the dead go, without explicit mention of judgment or reward based on one's life. While some texts suggest that God's presence doesn't extend to Sheol, other passages imply that God has power over it. 

Over time, particularly during the Second Temple period, Jewish thought on Sheol evolved, with some texts suggesting divisions within Sheol based on moral worth.

AI generated by Google

 

https://youtu.be/lGx7SYLtGcA

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

1 Corinthians 10:1-14 is a warning not to follow what the Hebrew people did in the wilderness. Also, they had all the Scriptures telling them about the coming MESSIAH and what He was going to do; but they missed Him because what they wanted was to be delivered, not from sin and death, but from Roman rule! Many Christians are doing the same thing today; they do not want to do the hard road of repentance and persecution; they what the wide road of the Good Life and The Rapture (Matthew 7:13-14)!

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but ELOHIM is Faithful, Who Will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it*.”

 

In the KJV and NIV it says, “a way”, in the NKJV, CJB and The Scriptures it says, “the way”. This can confuse people the difference between “a way” and “the way” is pretty big. A way can be anything, the way implies there is only one way; but that difference is negated because every temptation and the person under the temptation is different and there is a specific way that ELOHIM makes for them to bear or escape or stand up under it. That is the key thought in this passage, ELOHIM Will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to handle so that we can endure to the end (one of YESHUA’s favorite sayings; “To he who overcomes…”). It’s not about us escaping the temptation it is about us overcoming the temptation!

 

* NKJV has a note saying, “that you may be able to endure it.”; CJB says, “…so that you will be able to endure.”

 

https://youtu.be/Dy7dzQgwTys

Isaiah 54:17

 

Isaiah 54:17

 

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the Heritage of The Servants Of JEHOVAH and their Righteousness is from Me says JEHOVAH.”

 

The first sentence of this verse is often quoted by Israelis, Christians and non-believers. Why? Mostly because it sounds powerful and claims victory! But why did JEHOVAH prophesy this Word over Israel; and how does that apply to individuals?

 

In Isaiah 53* GOD asks the question, “Who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of JEHOVAH been revealed?” Then GOD goes on to describe what The MESSIAH will experience and accomplish; ending with the statement, “Therefore I Will divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death (Luke 23:46) and He was numbered with the transgressors (Mark 15:27-28) and He bore the sins of many (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) and made intercession for the transgressors (Luke 23:34).”

 

Then Isaiah 54 opens with rejoicing and victory, “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing and cry aloud you who have not labored with child!”  Chapter 54 is a positive Word of encouragement to the Israelites, but it is for the far future, Israel still has not experienced the fulness of this Promise.

 

After all this promise of His Blessings, Peace and Prosperity is a reminder of verses 16-17, “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the Heritage of The Servants Of JEHOVAH and their Righteousness is from Me says JEHOVAH.” While there will be conflict and war, Israel is under GOD’s Divine Protection and will always survive and again prosper.

 

Then Chapter 55 goes right into celebration, a reminder to seek JEHOVAH while He can be found, and a reminder that GOD is not like humans and we cannot understand Who He Is. Therefore we have to Obey His Word, then we will go forth in His Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).

 

So, how do we apply Isaiah 54:17 to our life? First we have to understand this sentence that we like to quote does not stand on its own. It is part of a Message from GOD to Israel about their future warfare and Peace. So to apply it to our life we have to find ourself in this whole passage of Scripture. The application is that GOD created the destroyer who is seeking to destroy all GOD’s Servants, so as JESUS said, “Do not think that I came to bring Peace on earth, I did not come to bring Peace but a sword!” (Matthew 10:34) and  “Do not think that I came to destroy The Law or The Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill!” (Matthew 5:17). This Scripture is not about GOD giving us victory but about GOD calling us to endure (1 Corinthians 10:12-15). JESUS often told us in the Gospels and The Revelation that we must endure to the end! The Victory is not the end! Enduring to the end is the Victory! “You will be hated by all for My Name’s sake; but he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) is the middle of telling us about the persecution we will face He tells us to endure!

 

* Remember, when JEHOVAH gave this prophecy to Isaiah for Israel there was no break, no division by chapter and verse, this was one continuous Word, chapters 50-55 are one Message about Israel’s Hope, Comfort, Redemption, The MESSAIH and Celebration.

 

https://youtu.be/Mbm_cze31-g