MATTHEW CHAPTER 6

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Matthew. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Note that similar or the same subject matter describing an historic event which matter is essentially the same as the subject matter in another passage in Scripture does not necessarily prove that the passages in view portray the same event. This is so, including those passages in which Jesus Himself is in view. For not everyone who lived or passed through the Palestinian region - which numbered in the millions - were present every time and in every place that Jesus preached and healed people. So it stands to reason that the subject matter that He preached bore frequent repetition in order to reach the greatest numbers.

On the other hand, passages in Scripture which not only have similar or the same subject matter describing an event but which also have different subject matter from one another, may or may not have the same event in view depending upon a full examination of the context of each of the passages. Given the brevity of the bible - the limited time, space and resources such as paper, ink, etc. - not everything was capable of being included in each of the writings or even in all of the writings together. There are going to be similarities and differences. But a careful examination of Scripture will reveal that there is nevertheless a miraculous harmony and complete absence of contradiction.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

I) [Mt 6:1-2]:

A) JESUS CONTINUED A TRAIN OF THOUGHT HE HAD INTRODUCED IN MT 5:17-48 WHEREIN HE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF CLAIMS THAT HE HAD COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. HE DISCUSSED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN RELATIVE TO THE REQUIRED CONDUCT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND WHAT RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS REQUIRED OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN ORDER TO ATTAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM. ON THE OTHER HAND, MATTHEW 6:1-7:12 ADDRESSES HOW JESUS' DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS, WHOSE ETERNAL DESTINY IS SECURE IN HEAVEN, SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES UNTO REWARDS IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHEN THEY GOT THERE

****** EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER 5 ******

OR MOVE TO MT 6:1

HAVING SEEN CROWDS OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIM, JESUS WENT UP TO A LOCATION IN ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS NEAR CAPERNAUM AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE, EVIDENTLY TO GET AWAY FROM THEM. THERE ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE HE SAT DOWN AS WAS THE CUSTOM WHEN RABBIS TAUGHT OTHERS. WHEN HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM, HE BEGAN TO INSTRUCT THEM

THE WORD RENDERED "BLESSED" APPEARS THROUGHOUT THIS SECTION OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 CONVEYING THE SENSE OF BEING SINGULARLY BLESSED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I.E., BY GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR. THE NINE BLESSINGS ARE STIPULATED AS REWARDS WHICH ARE DECLARED WILL BE BESTOWED BY GOD UPON PARTICULAR BELIEVERS, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES CHARACTERIZED IN THE MANNER STIPULATED THROUGHOUT THE PASSAGE. AUTHOR MATTHEW STIPULATED THAT JUST LIKE THE PROPHETS OF THE PAST THESE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WILL RECEIVE REWARDS IN THE TEMPORAL AS WELL AS HEAVENLY LIFE COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR FAITHFULNESS. SO UNBELIEVERS AND LESS FAITHFUL BELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW. FURTHERMORE, SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE CANNOT BE IN VIEW BECAUSE THAT IS A GIFT, NOT A REWARD

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT" HAS BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES BEING POOR IN SPIRIT ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 3 AS BEING POOR IN SPIRIT, I.E., AS HAVING DEMONSTRATED THEIR TOTAL LACK OF CAPACITY TO BE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. SO A SPIRITUAL POVERTY, NOT A TEMPORAL ONE, IS IN VIEW IN CHAPTER 5. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED SUCH A MOMENT OF BEING POOR IN SPIRIT BEFORE GOD WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE TRUSTS ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THE REWARD FOR THE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITHFULNESS IS CONVEYED BY THE PHRASE RENDERED "THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN," A STATEMENT OF POSSESSION OF THE KINGDOM EVIDENTLY COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF BEING POOR IN SPIRIT IN ONE'S TEMPORAL LIFE. POSSESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IMPLIES THAT ONE HAS ALREADY GAINED ENTRANCE INTO IT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE OWNERSHIP OF IT, CORROBORATING THAT ONLY BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN" CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW. FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE DEMONSTRATES MOURNING ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 4 AS MOURNING IN THE SENSE THAT THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES ARE CHARACTERIZED AS EXPERIENCING GRIEF OVER THEIR TOTAL LACK OF CAPACITY TO BE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. THEY MOURN THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED A MOMENT OF SUCH MOURNING WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE TRUSTS ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDE, FOR THOSE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO MOURN ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS WHO CHARACTERISTICALLY MOURN IS TO BE COMFORTED BY GOD IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF THEIR MOURNING, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THE MEEK CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES MEEKNESS ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 5 AS MEEK IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES IN THE SENSE OF BEING HUMBLE AND SUBMISSIVE TO GOD - ACKNOWLEDGING IN THEIR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS THAT AT NO TIME CAN THEY BE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED FOR A MOMENT SUCH MEEKNESS WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE TRUSTS ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES - FOR THOSE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO ARE MEEK ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, WHO ARE THOSE WHO MOURN. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS BEING CHARACTERISTICALLY MEEK IS STIPULATED AS INHERITING THE EARTH IN THE SENSE OF RECEIVING IT AS AN INHERITED POSSESSION WHEN IT IS UNDER THE RULE OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF THE MEEKNESS. INHERITING THE EARTH IN THIS CONTEXT IMPLIES THAT ONE HAS ALREADY GAINED ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN ORDER TO RECEIVE IT AS AN INHERITANCE CORROBORATING THAT ONLY BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS" CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE HUNGERS AND THIRSTS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 6 AS ONE WHO HUNGERS AND THIRSTS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE SENSE OF EARNESTLY DESIRING FOR GOD TO EXPRESS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM, THROUGH THEM AND AROUND THEM IN THE WORLD, WHICH ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM, IMPLYING A LACK OF IT IN THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED FOR A MOMENT SUCH HUNGER AND THIRST WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE TRUSTS ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES - FOR THOSE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HUNGER AND THIRST IN SUCH A MANNER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, AND ARE THOSE WHO ARE MEEK. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS WHOSE TEMPORAL LIVES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY HUNGERING AND THIRSTING IN SUCH A MANNER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO BE FILLED IN THE SENSE OF BEING CONTROLLED BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF THAT HUNGERING AND THIRSTING. NOTE THAT ONLY BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW HERE BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS BY DEFINITION DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE FILLED / CONTROLLED BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY" IN MT 5:7 CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BY THE MERCY OF GOD, WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES GODLY MERCY ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. ALTHOUGH ALL BELIEVERS HAVE RECEIVED THE MERCY OF GOD WHEN THEY BELIEVED AND RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE; ONLY PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 7 AS MERCIFUL IN THE SENSE OF DEMONSTRATING A GODLY, AGAPE-SELF SACRIFICIAL LOVE IN BEING GRACIOUS, KIND, COMPASSIONATE AND FORGIVING TOWARD ALL OTHERS. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED FOR A MOMENT SUCH MERCY THE CAPACITY OF WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE HAS TRUSTED ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES - FOR THOSE BELIEVERS WHO ARE MERCIFUL ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, ARE THOSE WHO ARE MEEK, ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS BEING CHARACTERISTICALLY MERCIFUL IS TO OBTAIN MERCY FROM GOD COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF THEIR BEING MERCIFUL TO OTHERS. NOTE THAT ONLY BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW HERE BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS DO NOT AND CANNOT CHOOSE TO BE MERCIFUL IN A GODLY MANNER

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART " IN MT 5:8 CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES A MOMENT OF BEING PURE IN HEART ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 8 AS PURE IN HEART IN THE SENSE OF HAVING A GODLY POINT OF VIEW IN ALL THINGS. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED FOR A MOMENT SUCH PURITY IF HEART THE CAPACITY OF WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE HAS TRUSTED ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES, FOR THOSE BELIEVERS WHO ARE PURE IN HEART, ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, ARE THOSE WHO ARE MEEK, ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, ARE THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS BEING CHARACTERISTICALLY PURE IN HEART IS THAT THEY SHALL SEE GOD COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF BEING PURE IN HEART. THE REWARD OF SEEING GOD FOR BEING CHARACTERISTICALLY PURE IN HEART IMPLIES BEING REWARDED WITH SEEING GOD IN THE SENSE OF AN INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD TO BE EXPERIENCED IN THE TEMPORAL LIFE AS WELL AS A GREATER INTIMACY WITH HIM IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. NOTE THAT ALL BELIEVERS WILL SEE GOD IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHEN THEY BEGIN EXPERIENCING ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT SOME MORE INTIMATELY THAN OTHERS DEPENDING UPON THEIR FAITHFULNESS IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS " IN MT 5:9 CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES A MOMENT OF BEING A PEACEMAKER ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 9 AS PEACEMAKERS IN THE SENSE OF REPRESENTING THE PLAN OF PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ALONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ENMITY / SIN BETWEEN GOD AND MAN ONE INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED SUCH A MOMENT OF BEING A PEACEMAKER, THE CAPACITY OF WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE HAS TRUSTED ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES, FOR THOSE BELIEVERS WHO ARE PEACEMAKERS, ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, ARE THOSE WHO ARE MEEK, ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, ARE THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL, ARE THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN HEART. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS CHARACTERISTICALLY BEING PEACEMAKERS IS THAT THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF BEING PEACEMAKERS. THE REWARD OF BEING CALLED SONS OF GOD FOR CHARACTERISTICALLY BEING PEACEMAKERS IMPLIES A DECLARATION BY GOD OF THEIR SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND ALL THE TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL REWARDS THAT ARE COMMENSURATE WITH SUCH MATURITY

THE PHRASE RENDERED "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" IN MT 5:10 CONTINUES TO HAVE BELIEVERS EXCLUSIVELY IN VIEW; FOR ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE EXPRESSED REPENTANCE TO A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHICH IS EVIDENCED WHEN ONE EXPRESSES A MOMENT OF BEING PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 1-5. PARTICULAR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE LED SINGULARLY FAITHFUL LIVES, HENCE NOT ALL BELIEVERS, ARE CHARACTERIZED IN VERSE 10 AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE THEY WERE REPRESENTING IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIS PLAN OF PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ALONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ENMITY / SIN BETWEEN GOD AND MAN ONE INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME. UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE BY DEFINITION THEY HAVE NEVER DEMONSTRATED SUCH A MOMENT OF BEING PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE CAPACITY OF WHICH IS IMPLIED WHEN ONE HAS TRUSTED ALONE IN GOD'S SON ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE TO BECOME A BELIEVER. THIS BEATITUDE COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES, FOR THOSE BELIEVERS WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, ARE THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, WHO MOURN, WHO ARE MEEK, WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHO ARE MERCIFUL, WHO ARE PURE IN HEART, WHO ARE PEACEMAKERS. THE REWARD FOR BELIEVERS CHARACTERISTICALLY BEING PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS STIPULATED AS THE SAME AS THAT WHICH IS REWARDED FOR BEING POOR IN SPIRIT, I.E., POSSESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, COMMENSURATE WITH THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF THEIR BEING PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE REWARD OF POSSESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IMPLIES THAT ONE HAS ALREADY GAINED ENTRANCE INTO IT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE OWNERSHIP OF IT, CORROBORATING THAT ONLY BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW

JESUS WAS AFFIRMING THAT THE KIND OF INDIVIDUALS IN VIEW IN VERSES 3-10 WERE THE KIND THAT HIS DISCIPLES WOULD BECOME IN A PROPHETIC STATEMENT RENDERED, "BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN MEN PERSECUTE YOU, AND SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE. REJOICE AND BE GLAD, FOR YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN IS GREAT; FOR IN THE SAME WAY THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU." SO JUST AS THE KIND OF INDIVIDUALS IN VERSES 3-10 WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST - BECAUSE THEY WERE CHARACTERISTICALLY PRESENTING AND REPRESENTING IN THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIS PLAN OF PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ALONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ENMITY / SIN BETWEEN GOD AND MAN ONE INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME; SO FOR THE SAME REASONS MEN WILL REPROACH AND PERSECUTE JESUS' DISCIPLES AND SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST THEM FALSELY - FOR HIS SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. ALL THOSE IN VIEW IN MT 5:1-12 SHOULD REJOICE, FOR THEIR REWARD IN HEAVEN IS GREAT; FOR IN THE SAME WAY THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE THEM - THEY TOO WILL RECEIVE GREAT ETERNAL REWARDS

JESUS INDICATED THAT SOME MAINTAINED THROUGH A TWISTED VIEWPOINT OF SCRIPTURE THAT HE CAME TO ABOLISH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. HE REBUTTED EMPHATICALLY THAT BEFORE HEAVEN AND EARTH PASSED AWAY, (PROPHESYING A FUTURE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH OVER WHICH HE WILL RULE FOREVER), HE WOULD FULFILL SCRIPTURE TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO THE ATTAINMENT OF ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH WOULD BE FULFILLED NOT THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUAL MEN BY KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS FOR THEY HAD - ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE - NO SUCH CAPACITY. THE PROPHETS FORETOLD OF A MESSIAH / SAVIOR WHO WILL PROVIDE GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MEN THROUGH A MOMENT OF REPENTANCE / FAITH ALONE IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR SINS. THIS WAS JESUS' MESSAGE WHEN HE PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND PREACHED "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND." JESUS FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT WHOEVER OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RESIDENTS IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHO BREAK ONE OF THE LEAST OF THE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACH PEOPLE TO DO SO WILL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHOEVER IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WHO PRACTICES AND TEACHES THE COMMANDMENTS WILL BE CALLED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM. SO EVERY DETAIL OF EVERY COMMAND, OF EVERY UNGODLY THROUGHT, WORD AND DEED, NO MATTER HOW SMALL WILL BE REGULATED. CHAPTERS SIX AND SEVEN OF MATTHEW WILL DEAL WITH THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS IN THE TEMPORAL LIFE OF DISCIPLES AND ALL MEN

[Compare Mt 5:48]:

****** END OF EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER 5 ******

B) JESUS BEGAN TO INSTRUCT HIS DISCIPLES ON HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES RELATIVE TO THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL REWARDS FROM THEIR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHICH WAS CONTRASTED WITH THE CONDUCT OF HYPOCRITES SUCH AS THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO "TAKE HEED" IN THE SENSE OF PAYING CAREFUL ATTENTION TO HOW THEY ACTED BEFORE GOD AND MEN. FOR IF THEY FELL SHORT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD SUCH AS PERFORMING ACTS OSTENTATIOUSLY TO ELICIT THE APPROVAL OF MEN, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE NO REWARD WITH THEIR FATHER WHO WAS IN HEAVEN

1) [Compare Mt 5:17-20]:

II) [Mt 6:3-4]:

A) JESUS' DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS ARE TO GIVE SECRETLY; THEREBY THEIR FATHER, SEEING THEIR GIVING IN SECRET WILL REWARD THEM OPENLY

III) [Mt 6:5-15]:

A) IN THE SAME MANNER THAT JESUS INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES / BELIEVERS ON ACTING RIGHTEOUSLY RELATIVE TO THE GODLY WAY TO GIVE; HE INSTRUCTED THEM ON ACTING RIGHTEOUSLY RELATIVE TO THE GODLY WAY TO PRAY. THEY WERE TO DO IT IN SECRET, AND THE FATHER WOULD REWARD THEM OPENLY. THEY WERE NEITHER TO PRAY WITH REPETITION, NOR WITH EMPTY RECITATION. JESUS STATED THAT GOD THE FATHER KNEW THE THINGS THEY HAD NEED OF BEFORE THEY ASKED HIM FOR THEM

B) JESUS PROVIDED A MODEL FOR PRAYER TO HIS DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS: THEY MUST PRAY TO "OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN"

AND THEN ACKNOWLEDGE:

(1) THE FATHER'S HOLY NAME, I.E., HIS ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY, ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO HIS BRINGING HIS KINGDOM RULE IN HEAVEN TO THE EARTH,

(2) HIS PROVISION OF FOOD,

(3) HIS TEMPORAL FORGIVENESS OF TRANSGRESSIONS BEING DEPENDENT UPON ONE'S FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS' TRANSGRESSIONS TOWARDS ONE,

(4) HIS NOT BRINGING ONE INTO TEMPTATION UNTO FALLING INTO SIN, BUT DELIVERING ONE FROM EVIL

1) [Compare Dt 1:30-31]:

2) [Compare Dt 7:6-8]:

3) [Compare Dt 8:5]:

4) [Compare Dt 32:6]:

5) [Compare Mal 2:10]:

6) [Ex 4:22]:

7) [Isa 64:8]:

8) [Compare Jer 31:9]:

9) [Hos 11:1]:

10) [Compare Isa 9:6-7]:

11) [Compare Isa 63:16]:

12) [Compare Mt 5:9]:

13) [Compare Mt 6:11 Greek]:

14) [Compare Mt 6:13b Greek]:

****** EXCERPT FROM MT 6:12 ******

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM MT 6:12 ******

IV) [Mt 6:16-18]:

A) JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES (AND ALL BELIEVERS) WHEN THEY FASTED THEY WERE NOT TO MAKE A SHOW OF IT TO IMPRESS OTHERS, FOR THAT WOULD BE THEIR REWARD - A SHALLOW, TEMPORAL ONE. INSTEAD, THEY WERE TO WASH THEIR FACES AND ANOINT THEIR HEADS TO AVOID MAKING THEIR FASTING OBSERVABLE. HENCE THE FATHER, WHO WOULD OBSERVE IT IN SECRET, WOULD REWARD THEM OPENLY IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WITH A REWARD THAT WAS ETERNAL

V) [Mt 6:19-21]:

A) JESUS' DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS MUST AS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY WORK FOR ETERNAL NOT TEMPORAL REWARDS WHICH THE LATTER CAN BE LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN. AND WHATEVER TREASURE ONE CAN BE OBSERVED SEEKING REFLECTS UPON WHATEVER ONE'S HEART / MIND AND SOUL IS FOCUSED UPON

VI) [Mt 6:22-23]:

A) THE EYE IS PORTRAYED AS THE LAMP OF THE BODY, I.E., THE KEY INDICATOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIOR. IF IT WAS GOOD, THEN THE WHOLE BODY WAS FULL OF LIGHT, I.E., OF GODLY GOOD. IF IT WAS EVIL, THEN THE BODY WAS DARK, I.E., SINFUL AND HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS!

VII) [Mt 6:24]:

A) NO ONE IS ABLE TO SERVE TWO LORDS, FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. IN THE SAME WAY, NO ONE IS ABLE TO SERVE GOD AS LORD AND TEMPORAL THINGS AS ANOTHER

VIII) [Mt 6:25-34]:

A) THE DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS ARE NOT TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT THE TEMPORAL THINGS IN LIFE. JESUS TOLD THEM TO LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, AND THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD WHICH THE HEAVENLY FATHER PROVIDES FOR. SO MUCH THE MORE DOES THE FATHER VALUE AND CARE FOR HIS CHILDREN. BEING ANXIOUS FOR TEMPORAL THINGS WILL NOT ADD TO THE VALUE ONE'S LIFE; AND IT DEMONSTRATES A LACK OF FAITH IN GOD. SUCH A TEMPORAL PRIORITY IS CHARACTERISTIC OF GENTILES IN THE SENSE OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD. INSTEAD DISCIPLES / BELIEVERS ARE TO SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHEREUPON TEMPORAL NEEDS WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR. THEY WERE NOT TO WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW WHICH HAS TROUBLE OF ITS OWN, BUT TO TRUST IN THE LORD ONE DAY AT A TIME

CONTINUE TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 7