27˝You have heard that it was...

27"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

- P114

Many people know the commandments, but they do not always understand the heart behind God’s laws. In this passage, Jesus focuses on adultery and divorce. Some people could argue that they have not technically committed adultery, but Jesus explains that even looking lustfully at another person is committing adultery in the heart. - P116

Sexual sin can also lead to divorce, breaking the marriage bond. Jesus uses hyperbole—exaggerated images such as plucking out eyes and cutting off hands—to show how serious sin is. Our Christian lives begin on the inside and extend outward. - P116

Our eyes and hands follow our hearts. May we take sin seriously, avoiding anything that causes us to stray away from God and His ways. - P116

Some people make vows by swearing an oath in relation to God, but Jesustells His disciples that a simple "yes" or "no" should be enough. Using God‘sname to make a promise seem stronger or more valid suggests insecurityor poor character. The swearing reveals that the person is not actually verytrustworthy.  - P116

However, those who reflect the goodness and trustworthinessof God can give a simple answer, and others know that they will keep theirpromises.  - P116

May we not use the Lord‘s name to swear oaths that we fail tokeep. Instead, let us aim to be faithful people who are trustworthy andreliable, keeping our promises both to God and to other people. - P116

Dear Lord, teach me to understand the heart behind Your laws. Sanctify me to become more like You as I seek to follow Your ways. May my words and deeds reflect the goodness and grace of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P117

Many ofus do notwake up one day and decide that we are going to beslanderers, murderers, or adulterers. The choice to sin begins with the atti-unforgiveness, jealousy, pride, andtude in our hearts. If we have come out through our wordsanger inside of us, those things willand actions, leading us directly into sin. If we want to honor God and blessothers, we can ask Him to reveal the thoughts and attitudes within us thatdo not please Him. Then can we invite Him to transform those areas toreflect His love and faithfulness, leading to a life that brings glory to Godin thought, word, and deed. - P117

17˝Do not think that I have c...

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

- P110

Jesus clarifies to those who may misunderstand that He has not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He is, in fact, the very fulfillment of the Law, and He has come into the world to accomplish God’s will for His people. Thus, God’s laws are not to be set aside. - P112

Those who will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven are those who practice and teach God’s commands, not in the hypocritical and prideful way of the Pharisees and teachers of the law do but in true righteousness and obedience to Christ. - P112

As Jesus makes clear, without such faithfulness to His laws, we will certainly not be called the people of the kingdom of heaven. - P112

Jesus reveals a deeper understanding of the laws that God‘s people haveheard for many generations. While the commandment "You shall not mur-der" remains, He takes it one step further and explains that it can be appliedon another level: being angry with a brother or sister.  - P112

Simply refrainingfrom murder does not mean that one has faithfully kept the Law; unresolved anger toward others also violates God‘s Law and is subject to Hisjudgment. Jesus shows us that we need to understand the intended meaning behind God‘s commands in order to live as God‘s righteous people.
- P112

The more we observe and understand the law of Christ, the more we willbecome like Him, ushering God‘s will into this world.
- P112

First, we need to understand the audience and context behind each caseMatthew is writing primarily to Jewish Christians, showing that Jesus isthe Messiah that the Jewish people have been waiting for Paul, on theother hand, is addressing Gentile Christians and dealing with legalismfrom people who insist that Gentile believers must follow the Mosaic Lawin order to be saved.
- P113

The texts also emphasize different theological truths. Matthew focuses onthe moral and ethical heart of the Law, showing Jesus‘ deeper interpretationof Scripture. Paul emphasizes freedom from the Law as a result of salva-tion, presenting Jesus as the one who saves by grace through faith, not byworks. Both perspectives are true, and by reading the entirety of Scripture,
we arrive at a fuller picture of the truth of the Law. We do not rely on theLaw for our salvation, but as disciples of Jesus, we love Him and obeycommands.
wood toaccomplish. - P113

Lord Jesus, thank You for helping me understand God’s laws and the way I should live. May I always remain faithful, so that, through my righteous deeds, others may see the Father’s will fulfilled on this earth. In Your name I pray, amen. - P113

11˝Blessed are you when peopl...

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

- P107

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - P107

When we are discouraged, mourning, and in need of God, we are blessed because we know that we have access to the kingdom of heaven and can find comfort in Him. When we seek God’s righteousness, we have assurance that we will receive it. - P108

When we extend mercy to those around us, we can also expect to see mercy in our own lives, and as we keep our hearts pure before God, we will see and experience Him. - P108

When we act as peacemakers, we demonstrate that we are children of God. Even in times of persecution, we can rejoice when we hold on to God’s promises and trust in His faithfulness. We can rejoice because we know that we are His blessed people with the assurance of the kingdom of heaven. - P108

As the blessed people of the kingdom of heaven, our role is to be like Christin this world. Jesus declares that we are the salt of the earth and the light ofthe world. Just as salt preserves and adds flavor, we are called to bring God‘sholiness and truth where He has placed us. We must continually guard oursaltiness the new nature God has given us-for if we lose it, then we canno longer benefit the people around us.  - P108

Just as Jesus also came as a lightinto the world, we are called to shine with good deeds that reflect God‘scharacter. As we faithfully live out our calling in Christ Jesus, we will bringglory to our heavenly Father. - P108

Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me into the blessings of Your kingdom through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to live out my identity as one who is blessed, and to be a Christ-like influence as salt and light in the world. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P109

12When Jesus heard that John ...

12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.

13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—

14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

- P102

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. - P103

When Jesus hears that John the Baptist has been imprisoned, He withdraws from Judea back to the region of Galilee. However, Jesus moves from His hometown of Nazareth to Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy spoken through the prophet Isaiah. Then, Jesus begins His preaching ministry, continuing on from what John the Baptist proclaimed: a message of repentance and announcing that the kingdom of heaven has come near. - P104

Jesus is not introducing something new but calling people back to the central message of Scripture. Centuries later, even as believers reap the blessings of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the central message of His Word remains: We are to call hearts to turn toward God because His kingdom has come near. - P104

Jesus calls four fishermen to be His first disciples, and they follow Himthroughout the region of Galilee as He teaches, preaches, and heals. Hispopularity grows quickly, and large crowds from every region begin to fol-low Him, bringing along their suffering, sick, and demon-possessed.  - P104

Peopleare drawn to Jesus for different reasons, but He is not prideful or concernedabout becoming more popular. He is focused on proclaiming the truth.
Ministry today should likewise reflect this kingdom-centered approach.
- P104

As we proclaim the good news of God‘s kingdom and minister to others,
may we model Jesus, letting go of pride and earthly concerns and using ourGod-given gifts to bless people and speak the truth with love and grace. - P104

Dear God, thank You for calling me to serve others and proclaim Your word. Help me to recognize the opportunities You place before me to love my neighbors and share Your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P105

1Then Jesus was led by the Sp...

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

- P98

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Afterfasting forty days, He is hungry. The devil tempts Him three times: to turn stonesinto bread, to throw Himself from the temple, and to worship Satan in exchangefor the world‘s kingdoms. Jesus resists each temptation with Scripture. The devilleaves and angels come and serve Jesus. - P99

The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to go through a period of testingbefore beginning His public ministry. The devil tries to convince Jesus tosatisfy His fleshly desires, seek His own glory and splendor, and worship thedevil rather than God, but Jesus overcomes every temptation. Because Hewas tempted, Jesus understands the temptations we face. There is no challenge, great or small, that He does not comprehend. And He gives us Hisstrength and wisdom so we, too, can triumph over every temptation.  - P100

Wecan be like Jesus, who is not concerned with seeking attention or living forHis own glory. We can reject the temptations of this broken world, know-ing that God can and wants to satisfy our needs, our desire for acceptance,
and our longing for justice.com - P100

Dear Jesus, thank You for showing us how to trust and submit to God. Helpus follow Your example and know Scripture well so that when temptationcomes, we may stand firm and resist. In Your name, amen. - P101