1. THERE IS AN IMPLICATION TO CHRISTIAN DUTY
-when you give, when you pray, when you fast
WE ARE CALLED IN THESE VERSES TO:
A) GOOD DEEDS -
B) PRAYER -
C) FORGIVENESS
D) FASTING
OUR DUTY DOESN’T BEGIN AND END IN THESE VERSES, WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO:
Obedience To God
Honoring Mother & Father
Honoring God With Our Mouths & Body
Loving One Another
Being Honest
Putting Our Hands And Minds To Good Work
Helping Widows and Orphans
Being Faithful
Being Sober Minded
Matthew 25 teaches that we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and incarcerated.
The list could just go on and on. But the reality is that Jesus isn’t teaching SOLELY about Christian Duty.
THE HEART OF THIS SECTION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS -OUR ATTITUDE - TOWARD CHRISTIAN DUTY.
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2. THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD CHRISTIAN DUTY - HUMILITY
THE WORLD CAN FOLLOW BIBLICAL MANDATES AND STILL BE WRONG. (Matt 7:22-23)
EVEN CHRISTIANS CAN FOLLOW CHRISTIAN DUTIES AND BE WRONG
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 6:1-18 WE CAN DO GOOD DEEDS, YET HAVE THE WRONG ATTITUDE, AND BE WRONG. WE CAN PRAY, YET HAVE THE WRONG ATTITUDE AND BE WRONG ECT...
THE BIBLE WARNS REPEATEDLY ABOUT BEING PRIDEFUL / HAUGHTY OR PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON OURSELVES AND NOT ENOUGH ON OTHERS.
Proverbs 6:16-17 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes,
Romans 12:3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Job 41:34 He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud."
Psalm 18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Zephaniah 3:11 On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO DO THESE THINGS TO LOOK GOOD - OR EVEN SO HE WILL REWARD US.
HE DESIRES THAT WE DEVELOP A PASSION FOR HUMBLY SERVING HIM THROUGH A PERSONAL LOVE FOR:
(A) HIM
(B) HIS WORD,
(C) AND MANKIND
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3. THE EFFECTS OF A CORRECT ATTITUDE TOWARD CHRISTIAN DUTY
One might think that attitudes don’t matter. Just from these few verses, look at the implications. Again this isn’t where it begins and ends, but rather just the scratch of the surface. When we are humble:
(A) 6:4 - WE ARE REWARDED ACCORDING HIS GLORIOUS RICHES
(B) 6:7 - WE ARE HEARD FROM HIS THRONE
(C) 6:10 - WE ARE IN TUNE WITH HIS KINGDOM AND HIS WILL
(D) 6:11 - WE ARE SUPPLIED WITH HIS PROVISIONS
(E) 6:12 - WE ARE GRANTED HIS FORGIVENESS
(F) 6:13 - HIS GIVEN HIS PROTECTION
