Author: mary

Matthew 5:27-28 says, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Adultery begins with a decision. Every decision begins with the mind. When you lust after someone, your lust becomes uncontrollable desires, which leads to decisions. Decisions lead to sin and a lifestyle of consequences. This is why Jesus said that lusting is the same as adultery. He knew what it would lead to.

Adultery is a sin that runs deep. It begins with lustful thoughts; this is where cheating begins. If you want to protect your relationship, the first thing you have to do is protect your heart and mind from the enemy and his schemes. He wants nothing more than to poison and destroy your relationship. Fill your mind with the things of God so that you can protect it. Fill your heart with scriptures so you will know what to do. He can guide you in your life and relationships.

Reconciliation is a theme of the Bible. God takes it very seriously. He reconciled us to himself through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Matthew 5:23-26 says, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” We are human, so it is only natural that at times we will disagree and strain our relationships. However, when we go before the Lord with bitterness in our hearts, we will not be able to worship properly.

This verse tells us to make right our grievances before worshipping. Why is this so important? When we are worshipping, if we do not have the right frame of mind, it will be difficult to fully worship with a clean heart. Bitterness eats away at the heart and mind and destroys the person it inhabits. You may have heard it said that bitterness only destroys you, not the one who you are bitter against. This is very true for the Christian. If you allow our enemy, the devil, to poison your mind with thoughts of unforgiveness, then you will never be able to worship God unhindered.

Anger alone is not a sin. However, it can lead to sin. Matthew 5:21-22 says, “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” Jesus describes anger as murder. The intent is the same. Anger begins with a thought. That thought stirs a bitterness and hatred inside of you. Murder stems from the same feelings: anger, bitterness, hatred. Both anger and murder both come from these feelings.

You have to be careful when you experience anger. While it is not a sin, if it is not controlled and dealt with, then it becomes sinful. For example, anger with a family member can eventually cause a rift in the relationship that keeps you from communicating. Anger with someone that wronged you can cause ill feelings and resentment toward the person, and these feelings can lead to sin. So, give all of your angry feelings over to the Lord, and allow him to lead you.

Righteousness alone will not achieve salvation from sin. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says, “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” There is nothing man can do to be better than God. Man only knows righteousness due to his/her encounters with God. 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.” Man’s wisdom and righteousness can never compare to the wisdom and righteousness of God. Man’s righteousness is based on his own wisdom and understanding, and this verse makes it clear that man’s wisdom does not go very far.

The good news is that God made a way for man to know and experience his righteousness: through Jesus Christ and his gift of salvation. Romans 1:17 says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Your faith in Christ will produce righteousness within you. You have the ability to live a righteous life, to make the right decisions, and when you struggle with it, he will offer forgiveness and guidance through the Holy Spirit.

The Pharisees hated Jesus because they thought he came to abolish the law and replace what they had known and taught. Jesus says in the sermon on the mount: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” His entire purpose was to make a way for people to be saved. The law cannot save anyone from their sin. God gave man the law for two reasons: one, to show man how to live, and two to fulfill the purpose of the law.

No one can completely keep the law everyday. We are born with a sin nature that desires to please itself rather than God. We have to constantly evaluate the decisions we make, whether they honor God or not. God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us know how to live. He guides us and leads us toward what is good and right. The law shows us our need for a Savior. It points us to Jesus. We need the law so that we know the depths of our sins.