Sermons on Matthew 5:20-48:

God's Rewards

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Feb 21, 2021

I think it's safe to say we all like to get rewarded. We like to get acknowledged for a job well done. Not that we do things to get rewarded, it's just nice when it happens. Today we'll take a look at the subject of God's rewards.

GOD'S REWARDS I think it's safe to say we all like to get rewarded. We like to get acknowledged for a job well done. Not that we do things to get rewarded, it's just nice when it happens. There are different kinds of rewards. It could be a prize, it could be cash like when we return a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:25-26, Hebrews 10:32-36, 1 Samuel 26:23-25, 1 Samuel 24:17-19, Matthew 5:46, Matthew 6:1-4, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Numbers 24:10-13, Genesis 15:1, Numbers 22:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lowest Floating Bulb: Listen!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 24, 2021

The Galileo Thermometer measures the temperature by the lowest floating bulb. Do we allow the lowest negative thought to distort the reality of God's plan.

THE LOWEST FLOWING BULB? I WILL LISTEN? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN A PEACEKEEPER AND A PEACEMAKER? Matthew 5 records what we call the BEATITUDES OR THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. The seventh point Jesus makes is that GOD LOVES PEACEMAKERS. A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:23-25, Philippians 4:7-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Hardest Word Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 25, 2021

Like Elton John sang, “sorry” seems to be the hardest word. But it can bring so much healing, peace, and restoration. [Watch video: https://youtu.be/Wv24QxchW74]

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:20-26 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 26, 2021

In probably his most radical command to us, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. How’s it going with that, dear Christian?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fulfilling The Law

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 3, 2021

When Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light, He is talking to us about our covenant, our calling and how they relate to our righteousness.

FULFILLING THE LAW Text: Matthew 5:13 - 20 Mat 5:13-20  "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  (14)  "You are the light of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Dealing Wisely With Unbelief & Opposition Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Mar 10, 2021

If we stand for Jesus, we will inevitably face the same kind of opposition that He did. How do we respond? His example gives us a clue as he faces both the unbelief of his own family, and the deadly opposition of israel's leaders.

It’s been more than 20 years ago now since I initiated a lawsuit in the name of the church against the Washoe County School District. As a few of you know, and even fewer of you probably remember, it was about the matter of Equal Access—equal access to public school facilities for churches and ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-15, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 7:6, Matthew 10:16-18, 1 John 2:15-16, Mark 6:3, Mark 3:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Bible Church

The Law And The Lord

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Christ was the event toward which the whole history of the Old Testament moved. Without the Old Testament we cannot know what it was that He fulfilled, and, therefore, the Old Testament is a vital part of the Christian faith.

Misunderstanding is a part of life, and much of the laughter of life is due to it. One little guy surprised his whole family one evening at the supper table by asking which virgin was Jesus' mother? Was it the Mary virgin, or the King James Virgin? He had misunderstood one word and was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Legalism Versus Love

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

We are in a world of great religious competition. We will all tend to follow one of these two strategies: The legalistic or the loving, the rule book power, or relationship power.

We live in a world where competition is a master motive. When the news reach Russia in 1945 that the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Stalin ordered secret scientists to find a way to catch up to the U.S. Andrei Sakharov was only 24 years old then, but his brilliant mind was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20

Respect Versus Contempt

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

All that is hateful and unloving is to some degree evil. Jesus says we need to be aware of this, and deal with it in its early stages, and so prevent all the serious consequences of thinking that negative attitudes are alright as long as you don't murder anyone.

Alexander the Great conquered the world, but anger conquered him, and turned him into a murderer. Like so many of the murders of history, it was not intended or designed. It happened because men do not understand that anger is the beginning of murder. Clitus, his best friend, was teasing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

The Now Life

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

The Lord's Prayer in chapter 6 is a now prayer. Give us this day our daily bread. All of its petitions are for now. Hallowed be your name-now. Thy kingdom come now. Thy will be done on earth-now.

Marguerite Higgins, Pulitzer Prize winner for international reporting, stood by a marine during the Korean War. It was 42 below zero, and the soldier was weary and covered with frozen mud. She asked him, " If I were God and could grant you anything you wished, what would you most like?" ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

The Lure And Cure Of Lust

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

It is no wonder the Pharisees wanted Him out of the picture. He just made the majority of the human race murderers by making anger equivalent to murder, and now He makes the majority adulterers by making lust equivalent to adultery.

Show me the man who has never looked at a woman with lust, and I'll show you a man with a white cane who was blind from birth. None but a blind man could get through life and not be captivated by God's crowning work of creation-woman. Anyone with an ounce of artistic appreciation knows ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30

The Cause And Cure Of Divorce

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Where lust is in power divorce will rise. Where lust is controlled by love divorce will subside. There is a direct connection between lust control and divorce.

Jo Fleming in her book His Affair reveals that almost every sinful emotion and action known to man is kindled by lust that is not controlled. Her husband of 26 years went to the apartment of a woman he worked with to return some books. This was an action he could have avoided, but he chose not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32

Simplicity Versus Complexity

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

We need to see that the primary problem of the Pharisees was that they were too religious. Some people go bad because of their vices, and others because of their virtues.

Human nature loves to magnify the minute and give significance to the insignificant by the simple method of stretching the truth. An army cook, for example, feed a mob of men with scrambled eggs, and then he sat down and wrote to his girl friend: "Dearest, for two hours shells have been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

The Reversal Of Revenge

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Revenge may be sweet for awhile, but it turns so bitter that it is never a long range value. This reversal of revenge, however, can add sweetness to life that lasts for time and eternity.

Aaron Burr could have been a great name in American history. He was elected to the U. S. Senate, and in 1800 he was a candidate for President of the U. S. Thomas Jefferson won that election, and Aaron Burr became Vice President. His future was bright, but then he was insulted by another famous ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Loving Our Enemies

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

This means the Christian must love the non-Christian, and even the anti-Christian. He does not need to like them, but he does need to love them.

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States and one of the most popular presidents ever. After two terms he left office with greater popularity than when he entered. He is one of the most interesting presidents to study, for the record would indicate that he had no business being ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-43