Matthew 7:12 — Golden Rule of Relationships
KINGDOM ETHICS SUMMED UP IN THE GOLDEN RULE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS = LOVING OTHERS
Matthew 7:7-11 — Our Heavenly Father Answers Prayer
GOOD THINGS COME TO US FROM OUR GOOD HEAVENLY FATHER IN RESPONSE TO PERSISTENT PRAYER
Matthew 7:1-6 — Prohibition against Censorious Judging Balanced by the Need to Exercise Discernment
DON’T BE OVERLY CRITICAL OF OTHERS BUT DON’T BE NAÏVE REGARDING VICIOUS OPPONENTS OF GOD’S TRUTH
Matthew 6:25-34 – Kingdom Perspective Towards Worry — Can You Trust God to Provide?
SEEK GOD’S PRIORITIES AND TRUST HIS PROVISION RATHER THAN WORRYING
Matthew 6:19-24 — Kingdom Perspective Towards Wealth — What Do You Treasure?
UNDIVIDED ALLEGIANCE AS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM MUST BE REFLECTED IN OUR VALUE SYSTEM, VISION AND VOLITION (LOYALTIES)
Matthew 6:16-18 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Fasting
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF FASTING
Matthew 6:7-15 — The Model Prayer as Taught by Jesus
OUR PRAYERS SHOULD NOT TRY TO MANIPULATE GOD BUT SHOULD EXPRESS OUR COMPLETE DEPENDENCE IN WORSHIP AND PETITION FOR NEEDS AFTER THE PATTERN INSTRUCTED BY JESUS
Matthew 6:5-6 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Praying
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF PRAYING
Matthew 6:1-4 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Giving Alms
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF GIVING ALMS
Matthew 5:43-48 — Love for Enemies without Partiality
THE TRANSCENDENT TEACHING OF JESUS REGARDING THE GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS OF KINGDOM CITIZENS CLIMAXES WITH THIS COMMAND TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES WITHOUT PARTIALITY
Matthew 5:38-42 — Going the Extra Mile Instead of Retaliation for Personal Wrongs
KINGDOM ETHICS REQUIRE GIVING UP OUR RIGHTS WHEN WE ARE WRONGED INSTEAD OF RETALIATING
Matthew 5:33-37 — Integrity Should Make Oaths Unnecessary in Normal Speech
OATHS ARE UNNECESSARY IN NORMAL SPEECH SINCE GOD DESIRES SIMPLE TRUTHFULNESS BASED ON PERSONAL INTEGRITY