Matthew Chapters 5, 6, & 7

[StColette]

Provide by: [url="http://www.biblia.com/christ/mount.htm"]Jerome Bible Commentary Online[/url]

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[b]The Sermon of The Mount:[/b]

This Sermon of the Mount is the longest of the Seven, in three full chapters of Matthew: 5, 6, 7…. it has been called the Constitution of the Christianity... and it is immediately followed by the description of 10 miracles in chapters 8 and 9, to show us clearly that the Kingdom is not only precious words, but also one of wonderful works.... to be made by the Christians, because every Christian is another Christ (Gal.2:20).

There are three essential things in this Sermon, each one explained in each one of the three chapters:

[b]1-The Law of Love of Christ: Chapter 5: [/b]

It is a much more refined Law that the one given to Moses, it is called the Law of Christ by Paul (Gal.6:2).

But is is an impossibility!... nobody could fulfill the Law of Moses, not even Moses!... and now Jesus gives a much more difficult Law, so, how anyone is going to fulfill this much finer Law of Christ?... it looks impossible!... but it is possible!... and the solution comes in the next chapter 6.

Here is some of the Law of Christ:

"It was said "you shall not commit adultery", but I say unto you that whosoever looks on a woman to lust has committed adultery in his heart... it was said: "an eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth", but I say unto you, if anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to take your coat, give your cloak as well... it was said, "you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy", but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you"... (5:27,38,44). The "Law of Love" of Christ

[b]2- Christ in You: Chapter 6:[/b]

But this impossibility becomes a glorious possibility in chapter 6: If you have "faith in God", like the birds or the flowers, Jesus Christ will live in you!... and with Christ in you, you can love and fulfill the glorious Law of Christ... and not you, but Jesus who lives in you (Gal.2:20)... He is going to use your hands to give food to the poor, and your feet to visit the sick and those in jail, and your heart to forgive your enemy, and even to love him... the essence of Christian life!, praise God.

We all want to love, but we are all selfish by nature, we want to love ourselves, and "selfishness" is exactly the opposite of love... but if Jesus is in our heart, we are going to love, to give away our things, even to give ourselves to others, because essentially "to love" is "to give"... and not us, but Jesus who lives in us.

That's why "faith in God" is the basis of Christianity, the most powerful force of the universe, capable to fill us wit love!.

The Life of Faith in God - Pray the "Our Father" with Jesus


[b]3- Still free... not a robot!: Chapter 7: [/b]

With Christ in our heart we do not become "robots", we still have free will, we still can do good deeds or bad ones.

With Christ is "in you", you are still "yourself", and you have to exercise the "faith in God" for every minute of every day of your life... it is the glorious adventure of Christianity... you still can pray or not pray to God... you still can hate instead of love, and you will hate every minute that you trust your life in your nothingness, or in the nothingness of human power of money, instead of trusting it in that minute in God... you still can go to Heaven or to Hell... you still can be a true Christian or a false Christian... you still can make miracles and cast out devils for your honor, instead for the honor of God, you still can rob God of his honor, and you will go to Hell!...

Faith without good works is a false faith, the faith of the demons, say Paul and James (1Cor.13, Jam.2:19-20)... the real faith makes a person lighted in Christ, and as a piece of wood with fire gives light and heat, a true faithful gives love and joy...

But Jesus says here, that faith without the good fruits of works is the faith of the false prophets:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them". (Matt.7:15-20).... yes, my brother: Love is the only measure of faith!.

In the next verses, Jesus is more explicit, and even frightening: "Many", he says, "many" Christians who made miracles, and cast out demons, and prophesied in the name of Jesus, will be thrown into Hell!:

"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt.21-23)... to Hell!. Life of Faith in God- Continuation - Four Ways to Pray

The Sermon of the Mount is the Constitution of Christianity... we should learn it by heart, and, most important, to live it in all its candor and splendor.

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Anyone ever heard of the Sermon on the Mount being described as the Constitution of Christianity ?

[MorphRC]

Yes I Have. By you. 3 Minutes ago

Thx for that Angelies

[StColette]

rofl Morph