Matthew 5- Salt and Light

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Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5:13-15

What are our requirements as a Christian? The modern day version of Christianity is, you say you believe in Jesus, and that’s it you get a golden ticket into Heaven. This is not Biblical Christianity. There are requirements of those who are Born Again in Christ. You were bought with a price, you don’t belong to yourself and you are to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20 ) Many people’s attitude today is “I want salvation and I want total control over my life also” You can’t serve two masters, for you will love the one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24) Question is who is your Master or Lord?

So what does a true Christian look like? Well Jesus said “You are the salt of the Earth” What does that mean? Well Salt , even in our modern times is used for several reasons, mostly to preserve and to add flavor. We “The Church” are to preserve righteousness and justice on this Earth. When the Church starts to act and look more like the world, that is when the Church fails. Don’t conform to the ways of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind “ (Romans 12:2) The Church should never “fit in” with the world, the world should be looking at the Church as an example of Christ in a broken world. 

As Jesus said “But if the Salt loses its flavor what good is it”? When the Church loses it’s righteousness by compromising with the standards of today’s world, what good is the Church? If nobody ever becomes saved or Born Again by coming to the Church, then what good is the Church? It might as well be thrown out and trampled upon. The Church, as the Salt, needs to preserve the true gospel of Christ, to save souls not to make people comfortable with their sins

Jesus said “You are the Light of the World” again Jesus referring to us Christians as The Light and The Salt. So what does this mean? Jesus explains “A city on the hill can’t be hidden” if you’re truly a Christian then the light of Christ should be seen through you. If people can’t tell the difference between the Church and the world, then there is an issue. A true gospel of Christ should be offensive (1 Corinthians 1:18) and should convict people of their sin. As Jesus said “Repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15)

Maybe you are too afraid to share the gospel or don’t want to offend anyone, Jesus said “People don’t light a lamp and hide it under a basket” You are not filled with the Holy Spirit to keep the gospel to yourself, Jesus gave us a commandment “Go preach the gospel to all the nations “ (Matthew 28:19) This is your duty and requirement as a Christian, again who is your Master? If Jesus is your Lord then you need to do as he told you!

We the Church (Christians) are the salt of the Earth and Light of the world, if Christians don’t fulfill their callings and duties , then the Church becomes useless, and might as well be thrown out. Be The Light and Salt in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , Amen!

Matthew 5- The Beatitudes

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And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1-10

The Beatitudes also known famously as the “Sermon on the Mount” considered by many not only to be one of the greatest teachings by Christ, but one of the greatest teachings in the entire world. The word “Beatitudes” means Blessings, however also as you examine these “Blessings” given by Christ they line up with the Ten Commandments, God’s Moral Law. While The Law reveals our sinful nature, its only function is to condemn. Jesus is providing His blessings of the New Covenant, as Christ has fulfilled The Law (Matthew 5:17)

While the Old Covenant had physical and financial blessings, the New Covenant has spiritual blessings for God’s Kingdom. For example, when Jesus is talking about the “Poor in Spirit” He’s not talking about a physical wealth of money, He’s talking about a spiritual poorness, those who mourn over their sinful nature, those who are facing trials and tribulations, those who are persecuted for God, they are blessed through Jesus Christ. I’m not going to break down every blessing as I’ve done this previously on my page Beatitudes, but you get the idea Jesus is providing a New Covenant with an Eternal Kingdom that is greater than the Old Covenant

While we look down this list, our natural minds wonder how can any of these people be blessed? The hungry, the poor, and the mourning, but our victory is through Jesus Christ. This whole teaching was a radical shift from the Old Covenant, where you were blessed by your health and possessions. Christ has provided a Better Covenant built on better and eternal promises (Hebrews 8:6)

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

Now comes the even more radical part, Jesus said “Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you” What? How can we be blessed or happy when people hate us? Again this goes back to what Jesus just taught us “Blessed are the poor in spirit” ect, we are in a spiritual warfare(Ephesians 6), this calling on your life is not going to be easy but the victory is already yours through Christ. You need to keep an eternal perspective in a temporary world, this is hard to do. But as Jesus said “Great is your reward in Heaven” not in this world as false teachers are telling people. 

We need to reflect more upon these blessings by Christ. In a fallen world, its easy to get discouraged or defeated but remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are Blessed and Victorious already through Him (John 16:33) Amen!

Matthew 4- The New Covenant

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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. Matthew 4:23-25

The beginning of the New Covenant has now arrived through Jesus Christ. It’s important to note that before Christ, there was never an exorcism performed. Why? Because Jesus Christ has all power and authority over Satan and the demons. Remember in the Wilderness, Jesus already defeated Satan by staying obedient to the will of The Father. And at the cross, Satan will be crushed forever (Genesis 3:15) This is a display of the New Covenant, a more better and powerful covenant (Hebrews 8:6)

Jesus is preaching the gospel in all the synagogues, Christ wasn’t just sitting around waiting for The Kingdom to come, Jesus was bringing the Kingdom to the people. Christ demonstrated the power of God’s Kingdom by healing people and casting out demons. It was apparent that this was a New and Better Covenant, and the fame of Christ spread rapidly like wildfire. Remember Jesus told his disciples “I will make you Fishers of Men” and that’s what they were doing, leading multitudes of people to salvation through Jesus Christ

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. Hebrews 8:6-7

As the author of Hebrews tell us “Christ is the mediator of a new and better covenant” How do we know this? Well because the Word of God tells us but also Christ has demonstrated this in his ministry. Jesus didn’t heal people or cast out demons to give himself praise, Christ performed these miracles to announce the Kingdom of God is here, the New Covenant has arrived!

Are you in the New Covenant with Christ? This is truly the only way to salvation and God, The hour has come for Christ to fulfill all the words of the prophets and fulfill The Law , so we can be declared righteous before God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), Amen!

Matthew 4- Fisher Of Men

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And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

The ministry of Christ has begun and now it’s time to build his Church, and he’s going to start with Peter and Andrew. As Jesus says “Peter upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18) Now its interesting to note Simon Peter’s name means “Rock”. So Jesus is beginning to build His Church, because the Church means people, called out believers. Now the amazing thing is these fishermen left behind everything to follow Christ. It says “They straightway left their nets and followed him” There was no hesitation by Peter and Andrew, they were all in for serving The Lord, are you?

Jesus uses the fishing analogy to apply to evangelism. Jesus said “ I will make you fishers of men” Meaning they were now going to dedicate their lives to saving souls for God. Think of the symbolism here, when you preach the gospel your casting out a net, and some people who are drawn to Christ will answer, others will fall away out of the net. We all should be “Fishers of Men” fulfilling the Great Commision, doing The Lords work

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22

Imagine the reaction of the Zebedee brothers’ father, when his two sons walked off the job and followed Jesus. He was probably furious, he was probably thinking “What is wrong with these boys”? They responded to a higher calling , to follow Christ. The world won’t and can’t understand this, because truly the world hates Jesus. When you sit back and think about all the disciples who gave up to follow Jesus, you have to ask yourself, would you have done the same under the same circumstances?

So now Jesus is going to turn the world upside down, who does he recruit, four fishermen, what? You would think he would have recruited a couple of Pharisees and Sadducees, no Jesus was looking at the heart, he wanted some real workers on fire for The Lord

Its time to cast out our nets, its time to be “Fishers of Men” share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone Amen!

Matthew 4- Jesus Ministry Begins

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Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Matthew 4:12-16

The hour has come now for Jesus to begin his Earthly ministry. Remember Jesus had just been baptized by the Holy Spirit, and gone 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the wilderness and overcame the temptations of Satan. Even though Jesus was fully God and fully Man, Satan couldn’t make Christ sin. The mission to the cross has begun, where finally Satan, sin, and death will all be defeated forever (Genesis 3:15, 1 Corinthians 15)

Again we see Matthew tying together the Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment of Christ. Isaiah 9 is mostly popular for verse 6 about the incarnation of Christ “For unto us a child is born, a Son is given” but do we skip over the beginning of the prophecy? The Messiah will be the light of the Gentiles, the New Covenant is coming in Christ, even the accuracy of the details mentioning the Jordan river, where Jesus was baptized, and Galilee where Jesus ministry began.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

The message of Jesus’ ministry was pretty simple, “Repent (Turn away from your sins) for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming” Notice this is the same strong message that John the Baptist was preaching. Prepare yourself for the Kingdom of God, how? By repenting of your sin, and becoming Born Again! A message so simple yet so few actually follow. You can create all kinds of religious rules and practices, but until you do what Jesus says, its all meaningless

The hour has come now, for Jesus’ ministry to begin. What does that mean? It means he and his disciples are going to not only save the world, but turn the world upside down. The religious system as we know it will be fulfilled and Jesus will reveal God’s grace and righteousness. The display of the New Covenant will be demonstrated as having power and authority over demons and performing miracles. The introduction of the New Covenant will make a way for Gentiles and Jews to become Children of God through Christ

This is where it all began, just like the Mustard Seed that is planted with a tiny seed and grows into a mighty tree. The Kingdom of God began, with One Lord , Jesus Christ , and spread throughout the entire world building God’s Kingdom Amen!