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THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT # 13

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THE LAW OF SWEARING IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

lion and lamb 

 “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5:33-37.

We can see immediately that to swear is the same as making an oath. Jews felt that it was a disgrace, and dishonor to break an oath. In fact, God held one accountable who made an oath. Moses said, “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:2.

 There are many examples in Scripture, but perhaps the story of Jephthah will serve us best. “And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering…And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances…35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, …I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. …her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,” Judges 11:30-39. This story is just one example of how serious the Israelites were about all vows. Jews held a person responsible for their vows. The Lord is warning the Jews to not swear under any circumstances. Their word, if true, should consist of a “yes,” or “no.” Nothing more was wise or necessary.

Jews would swear by God, the temple, the altar, and heaven. However, they had no control over events, or circumstances that might arise, where it would be better to not obey their vow. However, those who vowed were trapped by their on lips, as was Jephthah.  

This is good advice for one in any dispensation. You don’t need to swear by the stars, on your mother’s grave, on the Bible, by heaven, or by anything else. A safe answer is “yes” or “no.” It appears that the law of oaths will be stricter in the Kingdom of Heaven.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT #12 – Kingdom of Heaven

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MARRIAGE, MORALITY AND DIVORCE IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

lion and lamb

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. Matthew 5:27-32

This is the seventh of the Ten Commandments. It was given to Moses on stone, but Jesus reveals that adultery is a heart matter. He who has a heart of lust, will lust for another, and has already committed adultery in the heart. The believer should understand that all with God is a heart matter. We can assume that the lust is not speaking of a one-time event, but of a heart that is controlled by lust.

Since this sermon is located in Matthew, the book of the King of Israel, and Kingdom of Heaven is the subject, there is no reason one should spiritualize verses 29-30. I am aware that this is so foreign to Western thinking, that our minds have difficulty grasping it. There is no record of this practice In the Old Testament. Therefore, this must be a law for entrance into the Kingdom.  One need not spiritualize verse 29-30, while taking the other verses to be literal. As drastic as the action may be, it will be better than going to hell.

Divorce and remarriage was granted under the Law, although that was not God’s intent when Adam and Eve were created. In the beginning, God’s plan was one marriage only. Had sin not corrupted man that would still be the case, but God later allowed divorce. Paul, in the church epistles also allows divorce and remarriage. Under the Law, a bill of divorcement was sufficient to release the wife from her former husband, and she was free to marry another. (Deuteronomy 24.)

Under the Kingdom of Heaven rule, a man may not divorce his wife except she is found to be sexually impure. To do so causes her, and her new husband to committee adultery.

We are not informed of any further punishment on the two. Perhaps they will be expelled from the opportunities granted other citizens of the Kingdom. It is also possible that they are banished beyond the boundaries of the “Holy Land,” thus “cast out.” The full extent will be known in that time.

SERMON OF THE MOUNT # 11

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SETTLING DISPUTES IN THE MILLENNIUM

 

jewish altar

 

“  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Matthew 5:23-26.

The word “therefore” connects the following to the above. It also shows that the Law will be strictly enforced, and that animal sacrifices will be offered. We pointed that out in a previous article from the book of Ezekiel.

Notice that God requires harmony between His people more that he desires sacrifices. This is true in all dispensations. However, the Sermon of the Mount is specifically for the Jews in the Millennium. Thus, when bringing a sacrifice to the temple altar, it should be left, and reconciliation made with the offended brother. Afterwards, the sacrifice could be offered.

If a disagreement is of such a nature, that the adversary seeks to take one to court, the Lord admonishes that the offender seek to make peace before a court appearance. This is the meaning of verse 25. The gospel of Luke adds light. “ When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.” Luke 12:58. Note also that there will be counsels, officers, judges, and prisons. Matthew 18 also adds ever more light. “28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.” Matthew 18:28-30.

There is not one thing in these verses that requires that it be spiritualized; all is literal, and physical. The context puts it within the Kingdom of Heaven.

Perhaps the greatest perversion of this Scripture is by the Roman Catholic Church. On these verses they have built the cruelest doctrine found in any religion. The motive is to extort money from their ignorant church members. Verse 26 is used to show that the deceased, must first go to purgatory and suffer in hell fire to pay for his sins. His family is told that he will not come out of purgatory until someone pays the “uttermost farthing” for him or her. The “farthing” “… a day’s wage. It was .1375 oz. of silver, worth perhaps 65 cents today. Therefore, 100 pence would be worth only $65.Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.

I have before me the book of Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Dr. Ludwig Ott, who is a Catholic. On page 485 we read, “As to the length of the purification process for the individual souls, nothing can be said in terms of years.” Also, “For the individual souls the purifying fire endures until they are free from all guilt and punishment.”

The man in verse 30 does not come out of jail until “he pays his debt.” His time in jail may pay it, or his land, house, or family may be sold to pay it. However, the Roman Catholic Church has made itself the recipients of the payments of money until…? Since no one on earth knows when the debt is paid, money must continue to be paid to the Church so prayers and candles will be offered for the departed loved ones who are in the fires of purgatory. Since no one knows when the debt is paid, this keeps the money coming into the coffers. This demonic twisting of Scripture, by thieves, justifies the sentence to hell by all who espouse this doctrine.

There is nothing in the text about any church of any kind. This passage is all about the Kingdom of Heaven. You would have be demon possessed to use this passage to extort money from those who are suffering over the loss of a loved one.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT # 10

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lion and lambJESUS COME TO FULFIL THE LAW

“17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20.

The reader today must be totally objective when reading the Sermon on the Mount, and the comments about the Law. There were those who accused Jesus of going against the Law of Moses, and the temple. So it is, when tradition “leavens” the Word of God. The Lord is teaching the true intent of the Law, and placing Himself in authority to give the correct meaning and application. This is seen in His words, “But I say unto you…” See verse 22ff. Jesus came to meet the demands of the Law.

He met all it demands at His first advent, and no one knew that is was no longer in force until revealed by Paul. The Law, even for the Jew, is of no effect in this dispensation. A Jew gets save today just like a Gentile. HOWEVER, the Law will be in force again in the Tribulation, and will be until the end of the Millennium when that dispensation ends.

It must be understood that Jesus never broke the Law. He obeyed it even unto death. If fact, death was the “fulfillment” of the Law. As we said, the Law has been discontinued during this dispensation. However, from the Tribulation, through the Millennium, the Law will be in force again, and the King will enforce it.

The following speaks of the time when the Kingdom of Heaven will be established, and Jesus will rule from Jerusalem. “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain (Kingdom) of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:1-4. “16  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” Zechariah 14:16-19.  You will notice in the above, that the Law will be taught through Jerusalem, and the feast of tabernacles must be kept. We see the judgment on nations that neglect it.

Much of Ezekiel is dedicated to the temple, the priest, and the sacrifices. “… two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering… 41  Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices... whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering… This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him… sured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.”  Ezekiel 40:39-49.

The reader can search the Scriptures himself, and see clearly that the Law was not fulfilled, it was only set aside at His death. Thus, with this in mind, it will be easier to understand the book of Matthew, which is under the confines of the Law. When Israel was set aside, the Law went with them. Once God jump-starts His program with Israel, the Law will be in force again. Jesus did not come to destroy it, He came to clarify, and fulfill its demands. He did! However, the fact HE “fulfilled” it, does not mean that it will no longer exist. Search the Scriptures, they testify to that fact.

It is noteworthy that those who teach contrary to the Law, in that time, will be called “least in the Kingdom of Heaven.” The Christian is already made perfect in Christ, and will not be called least in heaven. The body of Christ is not the subject of the Sermon on the Mount.

 

 

 

 

 

THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT # 8 & 9.

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 lion and lamb“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:10-11.

We will combine the last two of the beatitudes, since both of them deal with the suffering the remnant will undergo in the Tribulation. The Lord had told them repeatedly that they would be hated by all nations because they represented Him.  

In verses 13 and 14, He tells them that they are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. Since men hate light, and righteousness, it will be impossible for these messengers to avoid persecution. He assures them a place in the Kingdom of Heaven once it is established. This persecution began in the early Acts period, and will be taken up again once the Kingdom message is reoffered during the Tribulation period.

Not only are the Disciples the salt, and light, so the nation will be in the Millennial. Isaiah chapter 60 has 64 prophecies concerning Israel. Since we are discussing light, we will observe its use in the chapter. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1. “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isaiah 60:3. All nations will come to Jerusalem with offerings, and to receive the LAW! “ And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:2. The reader cannot help but see that the Law will still be in force in the Millennial Kingdom. If one keeps this in mind, the Sermon of the Mount will become clearer. It must be interpreted in the context of the Law.

In John’s Gospel Jesus tells the disciples that hatred and persecution awaited them. “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 15:18-21.

In spite of the suffering and rejection they would receive, they are to maintain good works, and let their light shine. The shining light will be the message of the King and the Kingdom of Heaven which will be a reality shortly. There is nothing in these chapters about the church of this dispensation.