Matthew 5:31-32 — Dealing with Adultery as Related to Divorce and Remarriage
WHEN A DIVORCED PERSON REMARRIES THE RESULTING UNION CONSTITUTES ADULTERY
Matthew 5:27-30 — Dealing with Lust as Related to Adultery
AVOIDING ADULTERY DOESN’T GIVE YOU A PASS TO INDULGE IN LUST
Matthew 5:21-26 — Dealing with Anger as Related to Murder
UNRESOLVED ANGER EXPRESSES MALICE TOWARDS OTHERS (SIMILAR MOTIVATION TO MURDER) WHILE ACTUALLY HURTING OURSELVES
Matthew 5:17-20 — Jesus Fulfilling the Law — Sharpening the Focus . . . Raising the Bar
WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRED BY GOD, CHRIST BOTH SHARPENS THE FOCUS AND RAISES THE BAR
Matthew 5:13-16 — Salt and Light — Impacting the World around Us — Or Good for Nothing?
KINGDOM CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD
- TO COUNTERACT DECAY BY STANDING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS … AND
- TO SHINE THE TORCH OF TRUTH AND LIFE TO THE DARKNESS AROUND US
OUT OF A MOTIVATION TO BRING GLORY TO GOD
Matthew 5:1-12 — The Beatitudes Tied to Kingdom Distinctives
LIVING OUT KINGDOM DISTINCTIVES MEANS THAT ONE WILL ENJOY BIG-TIME BLESSINGS EVEN WHEN PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 4:12-25 — Summary of Powerful Impact of Early Galilean Ministry
MANIFESTING THE LIGHT OF JESUS TO A WORLD LOST IN DARKNESS REQUIRES COMMITTED DISCIPLESHIP, EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNING AND IMPACTFUL KINGDOM WORDS AND WORKS
Matthew 4:1-11 — The Temptation of Jesus Christ
JESUS AS THE SECOND ADAM DEFEATED THE TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN BY RELYING ON THE WORD OF GOD IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
Matthew 3:13-17 — The Commissioning of the King — Baptism, Anointing and Approval
THE COMMISSIONING OF JESUS TO PUBLIC MINISTRY INCLUDED BAPTISM TO IDENTIFY WITH SINNERS, ANOINTING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PUBLIC APPROVAL OF GOD THE FATHER
Matthew 3:1-12 — The Ministry of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Jesus
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN EMPHASIZING REPENTANCE PREPARED THE NATION FOR THE SUPERIOR BAPTISM OF JESUS AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Matthew 2:13-23 — Divine Protection of the Messiah against the Treachery of King Herod
DIVINE PROTECTION IN RELOCATING THE MESSIAH FULFILS OT PROPHECY
Matthew 2:1-12 — Wise Men Still Seek Him — The Adoration of the Magi Vs Antagonism from King Herod
THE COMING OF THE KING OF THE JEWS PROMPTS EITHER ADORATION AND WORSHIP OR FEAR AND OPPOSITION