Meeting With Christ

The coming of the Messiah is a major theme of the OT. It is constantly repeated throughout the pages of the OT. In the NT, we are told that it is the angels who have the privilege to announce the imminent coming of Christ. We read in the gospel of Luke, in the nativity account, the incident in which an angel makes this surprising revelation: …I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2.10-11). Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-214-peace-toward-men-of-good-will-1

You will remember that in our last lesson, we were talking about the message of the angels found in Luke 2:14. The angels gave glory to God and they said in that verse, On earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. Peace toward men of good will. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-214-peace-toward-men-of-good-will-2

The first recorded words of our Lord Jesus are found in Luke 2.49. This is what we read.Luke 2.49. And He (Jesus)said to them (to his parents),"Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"We know the context of these words. This incident happened when Jesus was about twelve years old. Mary and Joseph brought him to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. After the feast, on their way back home, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was not with the caravan. They had assumed that he was among the other travelers. They decided to return to Jerusalem to search for him. To their great relief, they found him in the Temple, discussing with teachers of the word of God. Still affected by this incident, Mary said to Jesus, ‘Son, why have you done that! We were looking for you everywhere.’ Jesus then answered with those words: Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business? Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-249-i-must-be-about-my-fathers-business

We will study today a topic that is not necessarily too popular nowadays. And this topic is about submission. Today we want to insist on equality. Equality of rights. Equality between the genders. Equality between the different races. Equality between the social classes. And thank God that by this insistence on equality, we have dealt, at least to a certain extent, with some injustice in our world. But let us not be blinded by this insistence on equality to the fact that submission is also a part of God's message for us. In fact, when I read the Bible, it seems to me that the Scriptures insist more on the matter of submission than on the matter of equality. Submission is a Christian virtue that should characterize the relationship of the believer to God and His will, and expressed in his relationship to his spiritual family and to the civil authorities of the country. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-313-17-the-baptism-of-jesus

I would like to invite you to open your Bible and read Luke 4.1-4. This is what we find.Luke 4.1. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry.3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."4 And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.’” Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-41-4-the-temptation-of-christ-1

We will continue today our study of the temptation of Christ, as we explore more deeply the meaning of the temptation. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-45-8-the-temptation-of-christ-2

Today we will continue and conclude our study of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. If you have heard the first two lessons of this series, I hope that you are beginning to see how Satan can be subtle.The devil usually comes behind your back and before you even know it, you have already stumbled. And it is precisely because we want to avoid that to happen to us that we are studying these verses of the Scriptures about the enemy. We want to know the tactics of Satan so that we can anticipate his evil influence on us. The moment you give your allegiance to God through baptism, you can be sure that Satan is not going to give you any rest. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-49-13-the-temptation-of-christ-3

The Jews considered the temple to be God’s house. But the arrival of Jesus altered this understanding of the temple. The glory of God will be found somewhere else. Jesus alluded to this change early in His ministry, in John 2.13-22. Let’s look at this incident.John 2.13. And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated.15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables;16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a house of merchandise."17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Thy house will consume me."18 The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?"19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.22 When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/john-213-22-in-three-days-i-will-raise-it-up

If I were to ask you to quote John 3.16, I am pretty sure that most of you would be able to do it. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. But if I ask you, ‘What are the two verses that come before John 3.16,’ I am not sure that the response will be as quick. Have you ever noticed the words that precede the well-known John 3.16? In other words, what is the context of John 3.16? Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/the-bronze-serpent

I would like to invite you to open your Bible and to turn with me to Matthew 4.17. And this is what we read.Matthew 4.17. From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://entretienschretiens.com/project/matthieu-4-17-repentez-vous

Today I would like to talk to you about Jesus’ concept of discipleship, the Lord’s teaching concerning discipleship. And for this, we will look at the passage in Matthew 4.18-22. This is what we read.Matthew 4.18. And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.19 Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-418-22-i-will-make-you-fishers-of-men

In our previous lesson, we were studying Matthew 4.18-22. And you will remember that we focused our attention on Jesus’ statement when He said, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. It was a lesson in which we stressed the notion of discipleship, discipleship from Jesus’ perspective. And I drew your attention to the fact that the word ‘disciple’ is used 268 times in the NT: 238 times in the gospels and 30 times in the book of Acts, for a total of 268. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-418-22-called-to-be-saints

With this lesson, we will begin a series of studies on the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes, as you know, is the Lord's description of what a Christian should be in his character. If you want to know what are the spiritual qualities that God expects of a Christian, meditate on the Beatitudes. I am sure that you have heard and read a lot of material on the Beatitudes. But this part of the Lord's teaching is so important that I think we should never cease to reflect on it again and again.So today, we will examine Matthew 5.3, a verse which the Lord Jesus addressed to His disciples in the presence of a great multitude. He begins the Sermon on the Mount with these words.Matthew 5.3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-53-blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit

We will continue today our exposition of the teaching of our Lord Jesus on the Beatitudes. And here is the second Beatitude that we find in the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 5.4 reads like this.Matthew 5.4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-54-blessed-are-those-who-mourn

We will continue today our exploration of the Beatitudes of our Lord Jesus. We come now to the third Beatitude found in the gospel of Matthew. This is what we read in Matthew 5.5.Matthew 5.5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.Happy is the man who is meek. Happy is he because God has blessed this man, because he shall inherit the earth.What does it mean to be meek? In today’s lesson, this is the question that I will try to answer. What kind of person does the Lord Jesus refer to when He talks about the meek? Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-55-blessed-are-the-meek-1

In our last lesson, we studied the third Beatitude of the Lord Jesus, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. In that lesson, we focused our attention on the meaning of meekness. We tried to answer the question, ‘What did Jesus have in might when He speaks of the meek?’ We saw that the meek are those who are righteous. You cannot be meek without being righteous. We saw also that the meek are those who know to wait for the Lord. They are those who let God be their defense. And finally, we saw that the meek are generous. They give and give, and give. You will remember that we drew these conclusions from the OT, more specifically from Psalm 37. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-55-blessed-are-the-meek-2

The fourth Beatitude taught by our Lord Jesus in the gospel of Matthew reads like this.Matthew 5.6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-56-blessed-are-those-who-hunger-and-thirst-for-righteousness

We will continue today our study of the Beatitudes. In Matthew 5.7, we find the fifth Beatitude and we read this.Matthew 5.7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-57-blessed-are-the-merciful

We will study today the sixth Beatitude of our Lord Jesus. This is what we read in Matthew 5.8.Matthew 5.8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-58-blessed-are-the-pure-in-heart

The Bible is very much concerned about peace. The Lord Jesus makes mention of those who make peace in the Beatitudes. This is what He says in Matthew 5.9.Matthew 5.9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-59-blessed-are-the-peacemakers

The last Beatitude in the gospel of Matthew reads like this.Matthew 5.10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-510-12-blessed-are-those-who-are-persecuted

We have now studied all the Beatitudes individually. Today, we want to consider them together and see whether there is an internal relationship between these Beatitudes. Is there some kind of order, some kind of unity, some kind of direction in these Beatitudes? Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-51-12-the-beatitudes-and-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-1

We saw in our previous lesson that there is an internal unity in the Beatitudes, and we described this unity in terms of the relationship between the Beatitudes and the fruit of the Spirit. We mentioned that the Beatitudes have to do with the qualities of the heart of the Christian whereas the fruit of the Spirit deals with the work of the Holy Spirit in the person who has these qualities. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-51-12-the-beatitudes-and-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-2

After studying the Beatitudes one by one, we looked at them together to see whether they form some kind of unified whole. This led us to see the connection between the Beatitudes and the fruit of the Spirit. Today, we will consider another kind of relationship, and it is the connection between the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer. We mentioned at the conclusion of our last lesson that the Beatitudes should be for the Christian an object of prayer. We pray to God that He helps us to become the kind of person described in the Beatitudes: poor in spirit, able to mourn for sins, meek, hungry for righteousness… We know that by ourselves, we cannot be like that. And so, we are asking God that He would give us the grace and the power to become a man and a woman characterized by these spiritual qualities. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-51-12-the-beatitudes-and-the-lords-prayer

We have completed our study in the Beatitudes and we come now to Matthew 5.13, a passage that describes the Christians as being the salt of the earth. Let us read Matthew 5.13.Matthew 5.13. 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. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-513-you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-1

In our previous lesson, we studied the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 5.13. This is what He said.Matthew 5.13. 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. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-513-you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-2

Our Lord Jesus, in Matthew 5.14-16, uses a metaphor to teach us something very important. In this metaphor, He likens His disciples to light. This is what He says.Matthew 5.14. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-514-16-you-are-the-light-of-the-world

Today I would like us to look at an important passage, important because this passage establishes the relationship between the OT and the NT. Let’s turn to Matthew 5.17-20. Here the Lord Jesus says this. Matthew 5.17. Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-517-20-i-have-come-to-fulfill-the-law

In Matthew 5.21-26, we find these words that come from the mouth of our Lord Jesus. Matthew 5.21. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.'22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire.23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison;26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-521-26-thou-shall-not-kill

I would like to invite you to turn to the teaching of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 5.27-30. This is what Jesus says on the matter of adultery. Matthew 5.27. You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Format texte disponible.Lisez et téléchargez cet épisode en format texte sur notre site internet à l'adresse suivante: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-527-30-thou-shall-not-commit-adultery

We will examine today the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 5.33-37. This is a passage that deals with the matter of oath and swearing. Matthew 5.33-37 reads like this.Matthew 5.33. Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-533-37-swear-not-at-all

Some time ago, I was working with someone who asked me about my religion. The question came rather suddenly. We were having a superficial conversation when he asked me, ‘By the way, what’s your religion?’ He thought that I would be a Buddhist or something of that kind since I am an Asian. So I briefly told him that I am a Christian and what it means. This man was a French Canadian with a Catholic background. He knew a little bit about the Bible. After he heard my explanation, he made the comment that he has long ceased to believe in the Bible. He said, ‘There are many things in the Bible that I don’t agree with. Take for example when Jesus said, ‘If someone slaps you on the face, you show him the other cheek.’ To me, it just doesn’t make sense. How can you accept that kind of ethics?’ Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-538-42-turn-to-him-the-other-cheek

It is a well-known fact that Jesus’ teaching stresses the commandment to love. In Matthew 5.43-48, Jesus points out that the extent of its application must be universal and not limited to certain people. This is what He says. Matthew 5.43. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-543-48-love-your-enemies

We will study today the question of the practice of piety for the Christian and we will be looking at the beginning of chapter 6 of the gospel of Matthew. We will consider Matthew 6.1-8 and 16-18. We are going to leave out vv. 9-15, a section on what is called the Lord’s Prayer, which we will study on a separate occasion. So Matthew 6 begins like this.Matthew 6.1. "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.2 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.3 "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.5 " And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-61-8-do-not-do-your-righteousness-before-men

Let me recite to you a passage that you probably all know by heart. This passage is found in Matthew 6.9-13 and it says this.Matthew 6.9. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-69a-our-father

We will continue today to study what is called the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, the Lord’s teaching concerning prayer. The Lord’s Prayer begins with these words: Our Father in heaven. The last time, we saw what it means that God is called our Father. We need now to turn to the second part of that phrase, in heaven. Our Father who is in heaven.What is heaven? Where is heaven? How are we to think about heaven? What is the meaning of heaven in the NT? These are important questions that any Christian should ask himself. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-69b-heaven

We will continue today our study of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6.9. In the second part of Matthew 6.9, we read that the Lord Jesus asks us to pray to God this prayer, Hallowed be Thy Name Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-69c-hallowed-by-thy-name

In chapter 6 of the gospel of Matthew, v. 10, we read these words.Matthew 6:10. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven.We will continue today our study of the Lord’s Prayer. And I would like to look at this verse, Matthew 6:10, in connection with the statement that Jesus makes immediately before He introduces the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus says this: Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-610-thy-kingdom-come

We will continue today our study of the Lord’s Prayer in the gospel of Matthew. And we will concentrate on v. 11 of Matthew 6. In Matthew 6.11, Jesus asks us to pray this prayer. This is what we read from the New King James Version.Mathew 6.11. Give us this day our daily bread. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-611-give-us-our-daily-bread-1

In our previous lesson, you will remember that we were studying the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6.11 where He said, Give us this day our daily bread. I pointed out to you that a better translation, according to most Bible scholars today, is to say, Give us this day our bread for the coming day. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-611-give-us-our-daily-bread-2

In the Lord’s Prayer, in Matthew 6.12, the Lord Jesus asks us to pray to our Father in heaven in this way.Matthew 6.12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-612-forgive-us-our-debts

We have been expounding on the Lord’s Prayer for some time now. And today, we will look at the last petition of the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6.13, the Lord Jesus teaches us to pray to God in this way.Matthew 6.13. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-613-lead-us-not-into-temptation

We will study today the passage in Matthew 6.22-23. Here the Lord Jesus uses a metaphor to teach us something very important about spiritual perception.Matthew 6.22. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-622-23-the-lamp-of-the-body-is-the-eye

Matthew 7 could be rightly called ‘The Christians’ relationships’ because it deals with various types of people with whom the Christian is related. It begins with his relationship to the brother. Today we will study the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7.1-5. This is what we read.Matthew 7.1. "Do not judge lest you be judged.2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.3 "And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-71-5-do-not-judge-lest-you-be-judged

At the beginning of Matthew 7, the Lord Jesus said that we are not to judge others. The Christian should never adopt a judgmental attitude. On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that we should be without discernment. We are not allowed to condemn people but we should be able to assess what kind of people they are. And in Matthew 7.6, Jesus asks us to beware of people who are like dogs and pigs. Here we read the following statement.Matthew 7.6. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-76-do-not-give-what-is-holy-to-dogs

We saw in our previous lessons that the Lord Jesus teaches us not to judge and not to give holy things to dogs. In those verses, He warns us against judgementalism and against being undiscriminating. Now He makes this wonderful promise in Matthew 7.7-11. This is what Jesus says.Matthew 7.7. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.9 "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10 "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-77-11-ask-and-it-shall-be-given-to-you

One of the most well-known statements that the Lord Jesus ever said is found in Matthew 7:12. It is often called the ‘golden rule’ of life. Here is what Jesus teaches.Matthew 7.12. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-712-do-also-to-them

We will continue today our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ teaching is now drawing to a close. He concludes His message with a surprising toughness, giving several warnings and exhortations. This is what we read in Matthew 7.13-14.Matthew 7.13. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.Enter by the narrow gate Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-713-14-enter-by-the-narrow-gate

The problem of false prophets has always been part of the history of the Christian church. These false prophets have caused much damage to the church and their destructive influence continues to be a challenge today. In Matthew 7.15-20, the Lord Jesus is telling His people to beware of false prophets.Matthew 7.15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-715-20-beware-of-false-prophets

The words of the Lord Jesus are not always comfortable. They are always true, but not always comfortable. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that not everybody who claims to be a Christian will enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us read Matthew 7.21-23Matthew 7.21. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Text format available.Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/matthew-721-23-i-never-knew-you