Sermon on the Mount - Part 3

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The subjects of the sermon on the mount, touch the very deepest parts of the shame of mankind. So, I am indeed aware that these are things we might not want to hear, even that we may want to ignore, but it was important enough that Christ spoke on it. For the sake of our souls, we should try to hear what is being said, instead of feeling offended about the topic.

Audio Version of the Note (NOTE: Audio is downloadable to share with your friends)

The House of Bread · Voice Note For 20240923 - Matthew 5 KJV - Sermon On The Mount - Part 3

Matthew 5 KJV

Matthew 5:27-32 KJV - Adultery

[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [32] but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.27-32.KJV

Note for 20240923

Oh, what is marriage? You know, it is the one thing people do not want to talk about, or hear the truth about. Maybe, I myself am guilty of being too opinionated about it, let's then look at the first concept of marriage.

Genesis 1 KJV

[24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

This is recited often in congregations. And yet, something else is considered marriage by the customs of man. Let's see more.

Genesis 24 KJV

[63] And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. [64] And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. [65] For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. [66] And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. [67] And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Oh, they say this is another time and that things are different now. But, you can go and read more, of Jacob too and even the words of Christ to the woman at the well. What is marriage? Did the Lord Himself not say not to make a vow, let your yes be yes and your no be no?

Sure, our reading is on adultery, not on marriage per say, though it speaks on divorce too. The Word says that what God has put together, let no man separate. Also, we should love the wife of our youth. But, I want to ask you something, in truth and in private consideration: Is it GOD that brings people together to cleave unto each other in all cases, or does it come by the lust of the flesh? How soon do most of us become adulterers? Yet, read the account of Dinah, Abraham's daughter and your heart will break in consideration. For Abraham gave Dinah, to him that violated her, as wife.

When Christ speaks on adultery, he equals the act with the thought of it. No wonder he speaks for taking out the eye or cutting off the right hand, in order to save the soul. Does it mean you must dismember yourself? Can you look away? Can you stop the action that brings you into judgment? Do you remember reading about the woman that was caught in the very act of adultery, that they brought to Christ for judgment?

John 8 KJV

[7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. [8] And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. [9] And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. [10] When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? [11] She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Shall we then go, and sin no more? Because in Christ, we are forgiven by the act of atonement he made for us on the Cross. Who is without guilt? No, we are not without guilt, but our penalty was paid by Christ. Do you remember the woman at the well? How many did she have that was not her own husband? Christ did not condemn either of these women and yet, look at what His standard on adultery is here on the sermon of the mount.

All of us have guilt in some way or form. We all have transgressed against the Lord and our fellow man. None is without sin. While we cannot undo what we have done in the past, we can confess our sin and repent of it. Then go, and sin no more.

As for standards, Christ makes Himself clear here on the mount. Who can cast a stone? You know what, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can. And even now in your heart, you say, "but He didn't." Oh! When the day of the Lord comes, He will. Woe unto all those who stand in unrepentance then.

The matter is not just in the act, but also in the thought of it. The lust of the flesh. Do you have any idea how blessed we are for this period of grace? Can we then repent and sin no more? For this, repentance and not sinning any more, is as pulling out the right eye or cutting off the right hand. Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you.

Friends, I know that there may be some that may even feel offended this morning. Remember, what is said here is said in love. It is not a stone cast, but rather a brief look at how we could be stoned. Just because a matter may be private now, does not mean that the Truth of it will never come out, nor that it is right in any way or form.

I was called to share the Word of GOD. Shall I then skip that in the Word of GOD that convicts even me? We do not skip chapters and verses, no! We read them and accept the Word of GOD and live by it. We walk after righteousness, purging evil from us wherever it is found, even in ourselves. Especially in ourselves, first.

Now that you have heard the Truth, what will you do about it? For most of you, it is not the first time you read this here. Is the pleading of the Lord on repeat? "And they repented not..." Do you remember reading it in the Book of Revelation?

Let this day then be the day that separates the days before, from this one and those to come by the grace of GOD.

Shalom

Verse of The Day

(Youversion expanded from verse 40)

Luke 12:32-40 KJV

[32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. [34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [35] Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; [36] and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. [37] Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. [38] And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. [39] And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. [40] Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.12.32-40.KJV

Further expansion (optional reading) below,

Luke 12:41-48 KJV

[41] Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? [42] And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? [43] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [44] Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. [45] But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; [46] the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. [47] And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. [48] But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.12.41-48.KJV