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CHAPTER 2 JESUS’ MESSAGE – TEACHING
Obeying God the Father’s will
The need to be born anew
The Son of Man from Heaven
Turn from sin to God
The fig tree without fruit- responding to God’s patience
The Lost Sheep
The Lost Coin
The Lost Son
The rich man and Lazarus
A man with two sons
The Law was given through Moses but…
The Kingdom of God is within you and among you
Little children come to Jesus
How to get to Heaven
Rich people and the Kingdom of Heaven
Will just a few be saved?
The narrow gate to Heaven
Jesus is the gate (the door) for the sheep
Jesus lays down his life voluntarily
The story of the great feast - don’t let yourself
be excluded
A mustard seed - smallest to the largest
Leaven – an improving influence
A treasure in a field
A pearl of great value
A place in Jesus’ Kingdom
Seeing and not seeing
Jesus is King
Seek the eternal life
Jesus, the Man from Heaven
Jesus, the Messiah
Jesus, representing his Father
Trust God – Trust Jesus
Jesus is the Way to the Father
Jesus raises the dead
Jesus is the Bread of Life
Jesus is the true Bread from Heaven
The Holy Spirit
Obtaining eternal life
The Miracles of Jesus
The Stories of Jesus
A farmer sowing grain
Why use mysterious stories?
The explanation of the story
Obeying and disobeying Jesus
How well do we worship?
Jesus is the Light of the world
The reason for Jesus going away
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit
You are to be perfect
The strength of the Law
The Law
Don’t make any vows
The most important commandment
Teaching and obeying God’s Laws
An addition to the rule under the Laws of Moses regarding
anger
God knows our evil hearts
The strength and power of the Law
Further to the Law, “You shall not commit adultery”
Jesus speaks about divorce
What to do to live forever in Heaven
Which neighbours must I love as much as I love myself?
The most important matter
Get rich in Heaven!
Obey the Word of God in all respects
How to fast
The matter of fasting
Ask the Father in Jesus’ Name
The duty and responsibility to pray
Have faith in God
The humble shall be praised
When you pray say…
Lord, teach us to pray
The forgiveness of sins
Really forgive your brothers
Light and darkness
Don’t worry
Make your Heavenly Father first and foremost in your life
Concentrate on one day at a time
Don’t criticise or condemn
First get rid of the beam of wood in your own eye
The Laws of Moses in the fewest possible words
Be trustworthy in small matters
Love and serve God
Be humble
How to be happy
Whom to invite to dinner
Humble yourself in like manner of a little child
Avoid tempting others
Give to those who ask
Do a kind act secretly
Maintain your high quality of godly living
Do good things to and for others
Make the Kingdom of Heaven your primary concern by obeying
Don’t seek revenge
Endure persecution
Love your enemies
Take courage with Jesus
Jesus returns to the Father
The Kingdom God is like a growing seed
The story of the thistles and the wheat
Separation of the wicked from among the righteous in the
completion of the age
For the Kingdom of God, use well what you have been given
Many are called but few are chosen
Thus shall be the last first, and the first last
Jesus said, “But I pass no judgment without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God who sent me and is not merely my own.”
John 5:30
Jesus said, “I am not judging you now; but if I were, it would be an absolutely correct judgment in every respect, for I have with me the Father who sent me.”
John 8:15-16
As the crowd pressed in upon him, Jesus preached them this sermon: “These are evil times, with evil people. They keep asking for some strange happening in the skies [to prove I am the Messiah], but the only proof I will give them is a miracle like that of Jonah, whose experiences proved to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. My similar experience will prove that God has sent me to these people.”
“And at the Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba shall arise and point her finger at this generation, condemning it, for she went on a long, hard journey to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; but one far greater than Solomon is here [and few pay any attention].”
“The men of Nineveh, too, shall arise and condemn this nation, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and someone far greater than Jonah is here [but this nation won’t listen].”
“No one lights a lamp and hides it. Instead, he puts it on a lamp-stand to give light to all who enter the room. Your eye lights up your inward being. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. A lustful eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. So watch out that the sunshine isn’t blotted out. If you are filled with light within, with no dark corners, then the outside will be radiant too, as though a floodlight is beamed upon you.”
Luke 11:29-36
Jesus said, “With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
“What I am telling you so earnestly is this: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he or she cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Men and women can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven; so don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it will go next, so it is with the Spirit. We do not know on whom he will next bestow this life from heaven.”
John 3:5-8
Jesus said, “I am telling you what I know and have seen …”
John 3:10
“For only I, the Man of Heaven, have come to earth and will return to heaven again.”
John 3:13
From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from sin, and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:17
“At last the time has come,” Jesus announced, “God’s Kingdom is near! Turn from your sins and act on this glorious news.”
Mark 1:15
About this time he was informed that Pilate had butchered some Jews from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem.
“Do you think they were worse sinners than other men from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And don’t you realize that you also will perish unless you leave your evil ways and turn to God?”
“And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? Not at all! And you, too, will perish unless you repent.”
Luke 13:1-5
THE FIG TREE WITHOUT FRUIT –
RESPONDING TO GOD’S PATIENCE
Then Jesus used this illustration:
“A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if he could find any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally he told his gardener to cut it down. ‘I’ve waited three years and there hasn’t been a single fig!’ he said. ‘Why bother with it any longer? It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’
“ ‘Give it one more chance,’ the gardener answered. ‘Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine; if not, I’ll cut it down.’ ”
Luke 13:6-9
Jesus told this story:
“If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbours to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.”
“Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away!”
Luke 15:3-7
“Or take another illustration:
A woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And then won’t she call in her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her? In the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.”
Luke 15:8-10
To further illustrate the point, Jesus told them this story:
“A man had two sons. When the younger told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die,’ his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.”
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there wasted all his money on parties and prostitutes. About the time his money was gone a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the swine looked good to him. And no one gave him anything.”
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired men have enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.” ’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and am not worthy of being called your son – ’ ”
“But his father said to the slaves, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him and a jewelled ring for his finger, and shoes. And kill the calf we have in the fattening pen. We must celebrate with a feast. For this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began.”
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard dance music coming from the house, and asked one of the servants what was going on.”
“ ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast to celebrate his coming home again unharmed.’ ”
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him to. But he replied, ‘All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to; and in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after spending your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have on the place.’ ”
“ ‘Look, dear son,’ his father said to him, ‘you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. But it is right to celebrate. For he is your brother; and he was dead and has come back to life – he was lost and is found!’ ”
Luke 15:10-32
“There was a certain rich man,” Jesus said, “who was splendidly clothed and lived each day in mirth, pleasure and luxury. One day Lazarus, a diseased beggar, was laid at his door. As he lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. Finally the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the righteous dead. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went into hell. There in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.”
“ ‘Father Abraham,’ he shouted, ‘have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.’ ”
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to come to you from here is stopped at its edge; and no one over there can cross to us.’ ”
“Then the rich man said, ‘O Father Abraham, then please send him to my father’s home – for I have five brothers – to warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die.’ ”
“But Abraham said, ‘The Scriptures have warned them again and again. Your brothers can read them any time they want to.’ ”
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham, they won’t bother to read them. But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’ ”
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even though someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Luke 16:19-31
Here are some of the stories Jesus told to the people at that time:
“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work on the farm today.’ ‘I won’t,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father told the youngest, ‘You go!’ and he said ‘Yes, sir, I will,’ But he didn’t. Which of the two was obeying his father?”
They replied, “The first of course.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning:
“Surely evil men and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist told you to repent and turn to God, and you wouldn’t, while very evil men and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to repent, and so you couldn’t believe.”
Matthew 21:28-32
THE LAW WAS GIVEN THROUGH MOSES
BUT…
For Moses gave us only the Law with its rigid demands and merciless justice, while Jesus Christ brought us loving forgiveness as well.
John 1:17
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU
AND AMONG YOU
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God begin?”
Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.’ For the Kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21
Little children were brought for Jesus to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. “Don’t bother him,” they said.” But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
Matthew 19:13-15
Once when some mothers were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother him.
But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very displeased with his disciples and said to them, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away! I tell you as seriously as I know how that anyone who refuses to come to God like a little child will never be allowed into his Kingdom.”
Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and he blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16
One day some mothers brought their babies to him to touch and bless. But the disciples told them to go away.
Then Jesus called the children over to him and said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the Kingdom of God belongs to men and women who have hearts as trusting as these little children’s hearts are trusting. And anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get within the Kingdom’s gates.”
Luke 18:15-17
Someone came to Jesus with this question:
“Sir, what good thing shall I do to get eternal life?”
“Good?” he asked. “There is only one who is truly good – and that is God. But to answer your question, you can get to heaven if you keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied, “Don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honour your father and mother, and love your neighbour as yourself!”
“I’ve always obeyed every one of them,” the youth replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
But when the young man heard this, he went away sadly, for he was very rich.
Matthew 19:16-22
As Jesus was starting out on a trip, a man came running to him and knelt down and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get to heaven?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But as for your question – you know the commandments: don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, respect your father and mother.”
“Sir, I have never once broken a single one of those laws,” the man replied.
Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him; “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor – and you shall have treasure in heaven – and come, follow me.”
Then the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away, for he was very rich.
Mark 10:17-22
Once a Jewish religious leader asked him this question: “Good sir, what shall I do to get to heaven?” “Do you realize what you are saying when you call me ‘good’?”
Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good, and no one else. But as to your question, you know what the ten commandments say – don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie, honour your parents, and so on.”
The man replied, “ I’ve obeyed every one of these laws since I was a small child.”
“There is still one thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Sell all you have and give the money to the poor – it will become treasure for you in heaven – and come, follow me.”
But when the man heard this he went sadly away, for he was very rich.
Luke 18:18-23
RICH PEOPLE AND THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “It is almost impossible for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. I say it again – it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”
This remark confounded the disciples. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, no one. But with God, everything is possible.”
Matthew 19:23-26
Jesus watched him go, and then turned around and said to his disciples, “It is almost impossible for the rich to get into the Kingdom of God.”
This amazed them. So Jesus said it again: “How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (the small gate beside the large gate of Jerusalem) than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
The disciples were incredulous. “Then who in the world can be saved, if not a rich man?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently, and then said, “Without God, it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Mark 10:23-27
Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Those who heard him say this exclaimed, “If it is that hard, how can anyone be saved?” He replied, “God can do what men can’t!”
Luke 18:24-27
“But, oh, the sorrows that await the rich. For they have their only happiness down here. They are fat and prosperous now, but a time of awful hunger is before them. Their careless laughter now means sorrow then. And what sadness is ahead for those praised by the crowds – for false prophets have always been praised.”
Luke 6:24-26
Someone asked Jesus, “Will only a few be saved?”
And Jesus replied, “The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, for the truth is that many will try to enter but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then if you stand outside knocking, and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us,’ he will reply, ‘I do not know you.’ ”
“ ‘But we ate with you, and you taught in our streets,’ you will say.” “And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you. You can’t come in here, guilty as you are. Go away.’ ”
“And there will be great weeping and gnashing, grinding of teeth and bitter disappointment as you stand outside and see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets within the Kingdom of God – for people will come from all over the world to take their places there. And note this: some who are despised now will be greatly honoured then; and some who are highly thought of now will be least important then.”
Luke 13:23-30
Jesus said, “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
JESUS IS THE GATE (THE DOOR) FOR
THE SHEEP
Jesus said, “Anyone refusing to walk through the gate into a sheep-fold, who sneaks over the wall, must surely be a thief. For a shepherd comes through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. He walks ahead of them; and they follow him, for they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger but will run from him, for they don’t recognize his voice.”
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them.
“I am the Gate for the sheep,” he said. “All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the Gate. Those who came in by way of the Gate will be saved and will go in and out and find green pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give eternal life - abundantly.”
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man will run when he sees the wolf coming and will leave the sheep, for they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf leaps on them and scatters the flock. The hired man runs because he is hired and has no real concern for the sheep.”
“I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, in another fold. I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice; and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.”
John 10:1-6 John 10:7-16
JESUS LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE VOLUNTARILY
Jesus said, “The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can kill me without my consent – I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right.”
John 10:17-18
THE STORY OF THE GREAT FEAST –
DON’T LET YOURSELF BE EXCLUDED
A man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied with this illustration:
“A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had just been married and for that reason couldn’t come.”
“The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city to invite the beggars, crippled, lame and blind. But even then, there was still room.”
“ ‘Well then,’ said his master, ‘go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.’ ”
Luke 14:15-24
A MUSTARD SEED – SMALLEST
TO THE LARGEST
Here is another of Jesus’ illustrations:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but becomes the largest of plants, and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter.”
Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story shall I use to illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, yet it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can build their nests and be sheltered.”
Mark 4:30-32
Now Jesus began teaching them again about the Kingdom of God:
“What is the Kingdom like?” he asked. “How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; soon it grows into a tall bush, and the birds live among its branches. It is like yeast kneaded into dough, which works unseen until it has risen high and light.”
Luke 13:18-21
LEAVEN – AN IMPROVING INFLUENCE
Jesus also used this example:
“The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a woman making bread. She takes a measure of flour and mixes in the yeast until it permeates every part of the dough.”
Matthew 13:33
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field – and get the treasure, too!”
Matthew 13:44
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the look-out for choice pearls. He discovered a real bargain – a pearl of great value – and sold everything he owned to purchase it.”
Matthew 13:45-46
A criminal on the cross with Jesus said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”
Luke 23:42-43
Jesus said, “I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
John 9:39
Jesus said to Pilate, the Roman governor, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when the Jewish leaders arrested me. But my Kingdom is not of the world.” Pilate replied, “But you are a king then?”
“Yes,” Jesus said. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth are my followers.”
John 18:36-37
Jesus said, “But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. No, spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I the Man from heaven can give you. For God the Father has sent me for this very purpose.”
John 6:27
“Come to me so that I can give you this life eternal.”
John 5:40
“Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Mankind, return to heaven again? Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once with physical birth will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual Life.”
John 6:62-63
“These claims are true even though I make them concerning myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going.”
John 8:14
“I am the Messiah.”
John 4:26
JESUS, REPRESENTING HIS FATHER
“I have come to you representing my Father.”
John 5:43
“I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other witness.”
John 8:18
“No one can come to me unless the Father attracts him or her to me.”
John 6:65
“Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”
John 14:1-4
JESUS IS THE WAY TO THE FATHER
“I am the Way – yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him – and have seen him!”
John 14:6
“Anyone who had seen me has seen the Father.”
John 14:9
“I am in the Father and the Father is in me. The words I say are not my own but are from my Father who lives in me. And he does his work through me. Just believe it – that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else believe it because of the mighty miracles you have seen me do.”
John 14:9-11
“This is the will of God, that you believe in the one God has sent.”
John 6:29
“I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he or she dies like anyone else shall live again. He or she is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26
“I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again. Those believing in me will never thirst.”
John 6:35
“Moses didn’t give it to them. My Father did. And now he offers you true Bread from heaven. The true Bread is a Person – the one sent by God from heaven, and he gives life to the world.”
John 6:32-33
“For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him or her to me, and at the Last Day I will bring all such back to life. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They shall all be taught of God.’ Those the Father speaks to, who learn the truth from him, will be attracted to me. (Not that anyone actually sees the Father, for only I have seen him.)”
“How earnestly I tell you this – anyone who believes in me already has eternal life! Yes, I am the Bread of Life! There was no real life from that bread from the skies, which was given to your fathers in the wilderness, for they all died. But there is such a thing as Bread from heaven giving eternal life to everyone who eats it. And I am that Living Bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will live for ever; my flesh is this Bread, given to redeem humanity.”
John 6:44-51
JESUS IS THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN
“With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you eat the flesh of the Man of Glory and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him and her at the Last Day. For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. Everyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood is in me, and I in him and her. I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me. I am the true Bread from heaven; and anyone who eats this Bread shall live forever, and not die as your fathers did – though they ate bread from heaven.”
John 6:53-58
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him; but the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet returned to his glory in heaven.)
John 7:37-39
“If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water.”
John 4:10
“But the water I give becomes a perpetual spring within watering forever with eternal life.”
John 4:14
“I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his or her sins, but has already passed out of death into life. And I solemnly declare that the time is coming, in fact it is here, when the dead shall hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God – and those who listen shall live. The Father has life in himself, and has granted his Son to have life in himself, and to judge the sins, the thoughts, speech and actions against the Laws of God, of all mankind, of human beings in general, because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised. Indeed the time is coming when all the dead in their graves shall hear the voice of God’s Son, and shall rise again – those who have done good, to eternal life; and those who have continued in evil, to judgment.”
John 5:24-29
Jesus as the Messiah:
“The proof is in the miracles I do in the name of my Father. But you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock. My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else, so no one can kidnap them from me. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:25-30
“The one sanctified, set apart as holy, and sent into the world by the Father says, ‘I am the Son of God.’ Don’t believe me unless I do miracles of God. But if I do, believe them even if you don’t believe me. Then you will become convinced that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 10:34-38
“But I have a greater witness than John the Baptist. I refer to the miracles I do; the Father has assigned me these, and they prove that the Father has sent me. And the Father himself has also testified about me, though not appearing to you personally, or speaking to you directly.”
John 5:36-37
To Nathanael Jesus said, “You will see greater proofs than this. You will even see heaven open and the angels of God coming back and forth to me, the Man of Glory.”
John 1:50-51
Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat and taught from it while the people
listened on the beach. He told many stories such as this one:
Matthew 13:1-3
Once again an immense crowd gathered around him on the beach as he was teaching, so he got into a boat and sat down and talked from there. His usual method of teaching was to tell the people stories. One of them went like this:
Mark 4:1-2
One day he told this story to a large crowd that was gathering to hear him – while many others were still on the way, coming from other towns:
Luke 8:4
“ A farmer was sowing grain in his fields. As he scattered the seed across the ground, some fell beside a path, and the birds came and ate it. And some fell on rocky soil where there was little depth of earth; the plants sprang up quickly enough in the shallow soil, but the hot sun soon scorched them and they withered and died, for they had so little root. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns choked out the tender blades. But some fell on good soil, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty or even a hundred times as much as he had planted. If you have ears, listen!”
Matthew 13:2-9
“Listen! A farmer decided to sow some grain. As he scattered it across his field some of it fell on a path, and the birds came and picked it off the hard ground and ate it. Some fell on thin soil with underlying rock. It grew up quickly enough, but soon wilted beneath the hot son and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and crowded the young plants so that they produced no grain.”
“But some of the seeds fell into good soil and yielded thirty times as much as he had planted – some of it even sixty or a hundred times as much. If you have ears, listen!”
Mark 4:3-9
“A farmer went out to his field to sow grain. As he scattered the seed on the ground, some of it fell on a footpath and was trampled on; and the birds came and ate the seed, as it lay exposed. Other seed fell on shallow soil with rock beneath. This seed began to grow, but soon withered and died for lack of moisture. Other seed landed in thistle patches, and the young grain stalks were soon choked out. Still others fell on fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop a hundred times as large as he had planted.”
(As he was giving this illustration Jesus said, “If anyone has listening ears, use them now!”)
Luke 8:5-8
Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Why do you always use these obscure stories?”
Then he explained to them that only they were permitted to understand about the Kingdom of Heaven, and others were not.
“For to him who has will more be given,” he told them, “and he will have great plenty; but from him who has not, even the little he has will be taken away. That is why I use these stories, so that people will hear and see but not understand.”
Matthew 13:10-13
Afterwards, when Jesus was alone with the Twelve and with his other disciples, they asked him, “What does your story mean?”
Jesus replied, “You are permitted to know some truths about the Kingdom of God that are hidden to those outside the Kingdom. As Isaiah the prophet says: ‘Though they see and hear, they will not understand or turn to God, or be forgiven for their sins.’ ”
Mark 4:10-12
Jesus’ apostles asked him what the story meant.
He replied, “God has granted you to know the meaning of these parables, for they tell a great deal about the Kingdom of God. But these crowds hear the words and do not understand, just as the ancient prophets predicted.”
Luke 8:9-10
“This fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah, ‘They hear, but don’t understand; they look, but don’t see! For their hearts are fat and heavy, and their ears are dull, and they have closed their eyes in sleep, so they won’t see and hear and understand and turn to God again, and let me heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Many a prophet and godly man has longed to see what you have seen, and hear what you have heard, but couldn’t.”
Matthew 13:14-17
“Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer planting grain: The hard path where some of the seeds fell represents the heart of a person who hears the Good News about the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it; then Satan comes and snatches away the seeds from his heart. The shallow, rocky soil represents the heart of a man who hears the message and receives it with real joy, but he doesn’t have much depth in his life, and the seeds don’t root very deeply, and after a while when trouble comes, or persecution begins because of his beliefs, his enthusiasm fades, and he drops out. The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money choke out God’s Word, and he does less and less for God. The good ground represents the heart of a man who listens to the message and understands it and goes out and brings thirty, sixty or even a hundred others into the Kingdom.”
Matthew 13:18-23
“But if you can’t understand this simple illustration, what will you do about all the others I am going to tell?”
“The farmer I talked about is anyone who brings God’s message to others, trying to plant good seed within their lives. The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to try to make them forget it. The rocky soil represents the hearts of those who hear the message with joy, but, like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep, and though at first they get along well, as soon as persecution begins, they wilt.”
“The thorny ground represents the hearts of people who listen to the Good News and receive it, but all too quickly the attractions of this world, and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and the lure of attractive things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced.”
“But the good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a plentiful harvest for God – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as was planted in their hearts.”
Mark 4:13-20
“This is the meaning of the story: The seed is God’s message to men and women. The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved. The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn’t take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe it for a while; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest. The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.”
“But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe.”
Luke 8:11-15
“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock.”
“But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and the storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
“But all those who come and listen and obey me are like a man who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm, for it is strongly built.”
“But those who listen and don’t obey are like a man who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it crumbles into a heap of ruins.”
Luke 6:47-49
“The time is coming when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how well we worship – is our worship spiritual and real? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. We Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.”
John 4:21-24
Jesus said, “I am the Messiah.”
John 4:26
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
“I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.”
John 8:12
THE REASON FOR JESUS GOING AWAY
“Yes, I’m telling you these things now so that when they happen you will remember I warned you. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. But now I am going away to the one who sent me; and none of you seems interested in the purpose of my going; none wonders why.”
John 16:4-5
“Instead you are only filled with sorrow. But the fact of the matter is that it is best for you that I go away, for if I don’t, the Comforter won’t come. If I do, he will – for I will send him to you.”
John 16:6-7
THE COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT
“And when he has come he will convince the world of its sin, and of the availability of God’s goodness, and of deliverance from judgment. The world’s sin is unbelief in me; there is righteousness available because I go to the Father and you shall see me no more; there is deliverance from judgment because the prince of this world has already been judged.”
“Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you but you can’t understand it now. When the Holy Spirit, who is truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not be presenting his own ideas, but will be passing on to you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He shall praise me and bring me great honour by showing you my glory. All the Father’s glory is mine; this is what I mean when I say that he will show you my glory.”
John 16:8-15
“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.’
Matthew 5:48
“That doesn’t mean that the Law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is as strong and unshakable as heaven and earth.”
Luke 16:17
THE LAW FROM EXODUS 20:3-17 - OLD
TESTAMENT
Then God issued this edict:
“I am Jehovah your God who liberated you from your slavery in Egypt.
ONE: “You may worship no other god than me.”
TWO: “You shall not make yourselves any idols: any images resembling animals, birds, or fish. You must never bow to an image or worship it in any way; for I the Lord your God, am very possessive. I will not share your affection with any other god.”
“And when I punish people for their sins, the punishment continues upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those who hate me; but I lavish my love upon thousands of those who love me and obey my commandments.”
THREE: “You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently, nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do.”
FOUR: “Remember to observe the Sabbath as a holy day. Six days a week are for your daily duties and your regular work, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest before the Lord your God. On that day you are to do no work of any kind, nor shall your son, daughter, or slaves – whether men or women – or your cattle or your houseguests. For in six days the Lord made heaven, earth, and sea, and everything in them, and rested the seventh day; so he blessed the Sabbath day and set it aside for rest.”
FIVE: “Honour your father and mother, that you may have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God will give you.”
SIX: “You must not murder.”
SEVEN: “You must not commit adultery.”
EIGHT: “You must not steal.”
NINE: “You must not lie.”
TEN: “You must not be envious of your neighbour’s house, or want to sleep with his wife, or want to own his slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else he has.”
Exodus 20:3-17
THE LAW FROM DEUTERONOMY 5:6-21 – OLD TESTAMENT
“I am Jehovah your God who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.’
ONE: “Never worship any god but me.”
TWO: “Never make idols; don’t worship images, whether of birds, animals or fish. You shall not bow down to any images nor worship them in any way, for I am the Lord your God. I am a jealous God, and I will bring the curse of a father’s sins upon even the third and fourth generation of the children of those who hate me; but I will show kindness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
THREE: “You must never use my name to make a vow you don’t intend to keep. I will not overlook that.”
FOUR: “Keep the Sabbath day holy. This is my command. Work the other six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God; no work shall be done that day by you or by any of your household – your sons, daughters, servants, oxen, donkeys, or cattle; even foreigners living among you must obey this law. Everybody must rest as you do. Why should you keep the Sabbath? It is because you were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out with a great display of miracles.”
FIVE: “Honour your father and mother (remember, this is a commandment of the Lord your God); if you do so, you shall have a long, prosperous life in the land he is giving you.”
SIX: “You must not murder.”
SEVEN: “You must not commit adultery.”
EIGHT: “You must not steal.”
NINE: “You must not tell lies.”
TEN: “You must not burn with desire for another man’s wife, nor envy him for his home, land, servants, oxen, donkeys, nor anything else he owns.”
Deuteronomy 5:6-21
Jesus said, “Again the Law of Moses says, ‘You shall not break your vows to God, but must fulfil them all.’ But I say: Don’t make any vows! And even to say ‘By heavens!’ is a sacred vow to God, for the heavens are God’s throne. And if you say ‘By the earth!’ it is a sacred vow, for the earth is his footstool. And don’t swear ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the capital of the great King. Don’t even swear ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.”
Matthew 5:33-37
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDMENT
One of the Pharisees, a lawyer, spoke up: “Sir, which is the most important command in the Law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbour as much as you love yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”
Matthew 22:34-40
One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Jesus replied, “The one that says, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ ”
“The second is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31
The teacher of religion replied, “Sir, you have spoken a true word in saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is far more important to love him with all my heart and understanding and strength, and to love others as myself, than to offer all kinds of sacrifices on the altar of the temple.”
Realizing this man’s understanding, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Mark 12:32-34
And that ended their questions, for they dared ask no more.
Luke 20:40
TEACHING AND OBEYING GOD’S
LAWS
Jesus said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come – it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfil them, and to make them all come true. With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. And so if anyone breaks the least commandment, and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“But I warn you – unless your goodness is greater than that of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can’t get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all!”
Matthew 5:17-20
AN ADDITION TO THE RULE UNDER THE
LAWS OF MOSES REGARDING ANGER
“Under the laws of Moses the rule was, ‘If you kill, you must die.’ But I have added to that rule, and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgment! If you call your friend an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” “So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and he drags you into court and you are thrown into a debtor’s cell, for you will stay there until you have paid the last amount of money due.”
Matthew 5:21-26
The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, naturally scoffed at all this.
Then Jesus said to them, “You wear a noble, pious expression in public, but God knows your evil hearts. Your pretence brings you honour from the people, but it is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Luke 16:14-15
THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF THE LAW
“Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But John introduced the Good News that the Kingdom of God would come soon. And now eager multitudes are pressing in. But that doesn’t mean that the Law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is as strong and unshakable as heaven and earth.”
“So anyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Luke 16:16-18
FURTHER TO THE LAW, “YOU
SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY”
“The laws of Moses said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye – even if it is your best eye! – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. Better for part of you to be destroyed than for all of you to be cast into hell. And if your hand – even your right hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better that than find yourself in hell.” (Note: A figure of speech – get rid of sinful thoughts to obey God. The eye stands for - desire and the hand - action.)
Matthew 5:27-30
“The law of Moses says, ‘if anyone wants to be rid of his wife, he can divorce her merely by giving her a letter of dismissal.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, except for unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery. And he who marries her commits adultery.”
Matthew 5:31-32
Some Pharisees came to interview Jesus. “Do you permit divorce?” they asked.
“Don’t you read the Scriptures?” he replied. “In them it is written that at the beginning God created man and woman, and that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one – no longer two, but one. No man may divorce what God has joined together.”
Matthew 19:3-6
Some Pharisees came and asked him, “Do you permit divorce?”
“What did Moses say about divorce?” Jesus asked them.
“He said it was all right,” they replied. “He said that all a man has to do is write his wife a letter of dismissal.”
“And why did he say that?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you why – it was a concession to your hardheartedness. But it certainly isn’t God’s way. From the very first he made man and woman to be joined together permanently in marriage: therefore a man is to leave his father and mother, and he and his wife are united so that they are no longer two, but one. And no man may separate what God has joined together.”
Mark 10:2-9
“Then, why,” they asked, “did Moses say a man may divorce his wife by merely writing her a letter of dismissal?”
Jesus replied, “Moses did that in recognition of your hard and evil hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, that anyone who divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Matthew 19:7-9
“When a man divorces his wife to marry someone else, he commits adultery against her. And if a wife divorces her husband and remarries, she, too, commits adultery.”
Mark 10:11-12
Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If that is how it is it is better not to marry!”
“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. Some are born without the ability to marry, and some are disabled men, and some refuse to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone who can, accept my statement.”
Matthew 19:10-12
WHAT TO DO TO LIVE FOREVER IN HEAVEN
One day an expert on Moses’ laws came to test Jesus’ orthodoxy by asking him this question: “Teacher, what does a man or woman need to do to live forever in heaven?”
Jesus replied, “What does Moses’ law say about it?”
“It says,” he replied, “that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbour just as much as you love yourself.”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you shall live!”
The man wanted to justify (his lack of love for some kinds of people), so he asked, “Which neighbours?”
Luke 10:25-29
WHICH NEIGHBOURS MUST I LOVE AS
MUCH AS I LOVE MYSELF?
Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road.”
“By chance a Jewish priest came along: and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Jewish Temple-assistant did the same thing; he, too, left him lying there.”
“But a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night. The next day he handed the innkeeper a sum of money and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill comes to more than the sum of money,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the bandit’s victim?”
The man replied, “The one who showed him some pity.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Luke 10:30-37
“Not all who talk like godly people are godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord’, but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father, in heaven.”
“At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’ ”
Matthew 7:21-23
“So why do you call me ‘Lord’ when you won’t obey me?”
Luke 6:46
Then someone called from the crowd, “Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.”
But Jesus replied, “Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have.”
Then Jesus gave an illustration: “ A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing – he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, ‘I know – I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy – wine, women and song for you!” ’ ”
“But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?’ ”
“Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”
Luke 12:13-21
OBEY THE WORD OF GOD IN ALL RESPECTS
As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother – the womb from which you came, and the breasts that suckled you.” Jesus replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”
Luke 11:27-28
Then Jesus asked them, “When someone lights a lamp, does he put a box over it to shut out the light? Of course not! The light couldn’t be seen or used. A lamp is placed on a stand to shine and be useful.”
“All that is now hidden will some day come to light. If you have ears, listen! And be sure to put into practice what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you. To him who has shall be given; from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.”
Mark 4:21-25
Another time Jesus asked, “Who ever heard of someone lighting a lamp and then covering it up to keep it from shining? No, lamps are mounted in the open where they can be seen. This illustrates the fact that someday everything (in people’s hearts) shall be brought to light and made plain to all. So be careful how you listen, for whoever has, to him shall be given more; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
Luke 8:16-18
“And now about fasting. When you fast, giving up your food for a spiritual purpose, don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites, the pretenders do, who try to look wan, sickly and dishevelled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, look your best, so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And he will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast as we do and as the Pharisees do?”
“Should the bridegroom’s friends mourn and go without food while he is with them?” Jesus asked. “But the time is coming when I will be taken from them. Time enough then for them to refuse to eat.”
“And who would patch an old garment with new cloth? For the patch would tear away and make the hole worse. And who would use old wineskins to store new wine? The old skins would burst with the pressure, and the wine would be spilled and the skins ruined. Only new wineskins are used to store new wine. That way both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17
John’s disciples and the Jewish leaders sometimes fasted, that is, went without food as part of their religion. One day they came to Jesus and asked why his disciples didn’t do this too.
Jesus replied, “Do friends of the bridegroom refuse to eat at the wedding feast? Should they be sad while he is with them? But some day he will be taken away from them, and then they will mourn. (Besides, going without food is part of the old way of doing things.) It is like patching an old garment with new cloth. What happens? The patch pulls away and leaves the hole worse than before. You know better than to put new wine into old wineskins. They would burst. The wine would be spilled out and the wine skins ruined. New wine needs fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:18-22
Their next complaint was that Jesus’ disciples were feasting instead of fasting. “John the Baptist’s disciples are constantly going without food, and praying,” they declared, “and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are yours wining and dining?”
Jesus asked, “Do happy men fast? Do wedding guests go hungry while celebrating with the groom? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be killed; then they won’t want to eat.”
Then Jesus used this illustration: “No one tears up new cloth to make patches for old clothes, for the new garment is ruined and the old one isn’t helped when the patch tears out again. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, for the new wine bursts the old skins, ruining the skins and spilling the wine. New wine must be put into new wineskins. But no one after drinking the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. ‘The old ways are best,’ they say.”
Luke 5:33-39
“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. You haven’t tried this before, (but begin now). Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.”
“I have spoken of these matters very guardedly, but the time will come when this will not be necessary and I will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will present your petitions over my signature.”
“And I won’t need to ask the Father to grant you these requests, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from the Father.”
John 16:23-27
“Ask, and you will be given what you ask for. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Anyone who seeks, finds.
If only you will knock, the door will open. If a child asks his father for a loaf of bread, will he be given a stone instead? If he asks for fish, will he be given a poisonous snake? Of course not! And if you hard hearted, sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?”
Matthew 7:7-11
THE DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO
PRAY
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.
“There was a city judge,” Jesus said, “a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves.” “ ‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, ‘but this woman bothers me. I’m going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!’ ” Then the Lord said, “If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don’t you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night? Yes, he will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Son of Mankind, return, how many will I find who have faith (and are praying)?”
Luke 18:1-8
The disciples were utterly amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” Then Jesus told them, “Truly, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Move over into the ocean,’ and it will. You can get anything – anything you ask for in prayer - if you believe.”
Matthew 21:20-22
Next morning, as they passed the fig tree Jesus had cursed, they saw that it was withered from the roots. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day, and exclaimed, “Look Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God – this is the absolute truth – you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt! Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours! But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”
Mark 11:20-25
(Note: With complete confidence in God, through continual prayer, aim to overcome and remove sizeable mountains of difficulty standing in the way of achieving God’s plan and purposes for and in your life of obedience.)
Then Jesus told this story to some people who boasted of their virtue and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, and the other a cheating tax collector. The proud Pharisee ‘prayed’ this prayer: ‘Thank God, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t commit adultery, I go without food twice a week, and I give to God a tenth of everything I earn.’
But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven! For the proud shall be humbled, but the humble shall be honoured.”
Luke 18:9-14
“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.”
“Don’t recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered if they are repeated again and again. Remember your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
“Pray along these lines: ‘Our Father in heaven, we honour your holy name. We ask that your kingdom will come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food again today, as usual, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Amen.’ Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.”
Matthew 6:5-15
Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of his disciples came to him as he finished and said, “Lord, teach us a prayer to recite just as John taught one to his disciples.”
And this is the prayer Jesus taught them: “Father, may your name be honoured for its holiness; send your Kingdom soon. Give us our food day by day, and forgive our sins – for we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don’t allow us to be tempted.”
Then, teaching them more about prayer, Jesus said, “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I’ve nothing to give him to eat.’ He would call down from his bedroom, ‘Please don’t ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can’t help you this time.’ ”
“But I’ll tell you this – though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want – just because of your persistence. And so it is with prayer – keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened. Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”
“You men who are fathers – if your boy asks for bread, do you give him a stone? If he asks for fish, do you give him a snake? If he asks for an egg, do you give him a scorpion, (a small lobster-shaped animal with a poisonous sting at the end of a jointed tail)? (Of course not!).”
“And if even sinful persons like yourselves give children what they need, don’t you realize that your heavenly Father will do at least as much, and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him?”
Luke 11:1-13
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for lunch and Jesus accepted the invitation. As they sat down to eat, a woman of the streets – a prostitute – heard Jesus was there and brought an exquisite flask filled with expensive perfume. Going in, she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping until his feet were wet with her tears; and she wiped them off with her hair and kissed them and poured the perfume on them.
When Jesus’ host, a Pharisee, saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, “This proves that Jesus is no prophet, for if God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman this one is!”
Then Jesus spoke up and answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“All right, Teacher,” Simon replied, “go ahead.”
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people – 500 to one and 50 to the other. But neither of them could pay him back, so he kindly forgave them both, letting them keep the money. Which do you suppose loved him most after that?”
“I suppose the one who had owed him the most,” Simon answered.
“Correct,” Jesus agreed.
Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman kneeling here? When I entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet with rare perfume. Therefore her sins – and they are many – are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.”
And Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Then the men at the table said to themselves, “who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?”
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus said, “If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault. If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother. But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses. If he still refuses to listen, then take your case to the church, and if the church’s verdict favours you, but he won’t accept it, then the church should excommunicate him. And I tell you this – whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth will be freed in heaven.”
“I also tell you this – if two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be there among them.”
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No,” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!”
“The Kingdom of God can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him four million. He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered him to be sold for the debt, also his wife and children and everything he had.”
“But the man fell down before the king, his face in the dust, and said, ‘Oh, sir, be patient with me and I will pay it all.”
“Then the king was filled with pity for him and released him and forgave his debt.”
“But when the man left the king, he went to a man who owed him about eight hundred and grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.”
“The man fell down before him and begged him to give him a little time. ‘Be patient and I will pay it,’ he begged.”
“But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt would be paid in full.”
“Then the man’s friends went to the king and told him what had happened. And the king called before him the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil-hearted wretch! Here I forgave you all that tremendous debt, just because you asked me to – shouldn’t you have mercy on others, just as I had mercy on you?’ ”
“Then the angry king sent the man to the torture chamber until he had paid every last amount due. So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse truly to forgive your brothers.”
Mathew 18:15-35
Jesus said, “If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul. But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness. And oh, how deep that darkness can be!”
Matthew 6:22-23
Jesus said: “So my counsel is: don’t worry about things – food, drink, money, and clothes. For you already have life and a body – and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat – they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food – for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies. They don’t worry about theirs. Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O people of little faith?”
Matthew 6:25-30
MAKE YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FIRST
AND FOREMOST IN YOUR LIFE
Jesus said, “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them. And he will gladly give them to you if you give him first place in your life.”
Matthew 6:31-33
CONCENTRATE ON ONE DAY AT A TIME
Jesus said, “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”
Matthew 6:34
Jesus said, “Don’t criticise, and then you won’t be criticised. For others will treat you as you treat them.”
Mathew 7:1-2
Jesus said, “Never criticise or condemn – or it will all come back on you. Go easy on others; then they will do the same for you. For if you give, you will get. Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give – large or small – will be used to measure what is given back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38
Here are some of the illustrations Jesus used in his sermons: “What good is it for one blind man to lead another? He will fall into a ditch and pull the other down with him. How can a student know more than his teacher? But if he works hard, he may learn as much.”
Luke 6:39-40
FIRST GET RID OF THE BEAM OF WOOD
IN YOUR OWN EYE
Jesus said, “And why quibble about the speck in someone else’s eye – his little fault – when a board is in your own? How can you think of saying to him, ‘Brother, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the board in yours? Hypocrite! Pretender! First get rid of the board, and then perhaps you can see well enough to deal with his speck.”
Luke 6:41-42
Jesus said, “Why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a plank in your own? Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Pretender! First get rid of the plank. Then you can see to help your brother. Don’t give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls and turn and attack you.”
Matthew 7:3-6
THE LAWS OF MOSES IN THE FEWEST
POSSIBLE WORDS
Jesus said, “Treat others as you want them to treat you.”
Luke 6:31
Jesus said, “Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the Laws of Moses in a nutshell.”
Matthew 7:12
BE TRUSTWORTHY IN SMALL MATTERS
Jesus now told this story to his disciples: “A rich man hired an accountant to handle his affairs, but soon a rumour went around that the accountant was thoroughly dishonest.”
“So his employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about your stealing from me? Get your report in order, for you are dismissed.’ ”
“The accountant thought to himself, ‘Now what? I’m finished here, I haven’t the strength to go out and dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. I know just the thing! And then I’ll have plenty of friends to take care of me when I leave!’ ”
“So he invited each one who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ ”
“ ‘My debt is 3,400 litres of olive oil,’ the man replied.
“ ‘Yes, here is the contract you signed,’ the accountant told him. ‘Tear it up and write another one for half that much!’ ”
“ ‘And how much do you owe him?’ he asked the next man.”
“ ‘ 35,000 litres of wheat,’ was the reply.”
“ ‘Here,’ the accountant said, ‘take your note and replace it with one for only 28,000 litres!’ ”
“The rich man had to admire the rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more clever in dishonesty than the godly are. But shall I tell you to act that way, to buy friendship through cheating? Will this ensure your entry into an everlasting home in heaven? No! For, unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And, if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be entrusted with money of your own?”
“For neither you nor anyone else can serve two masters. You will hate one and show loyalty to the other, or else the other way around – you will be enthusiastic about one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said, “You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around.”
Matthew 6:24
When Jesus noticed that all who came to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “If you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t always head for the best seat. For if someone more respected than you turns up, the host will bring him over to where you are sitting and say, ‘Let this man sit here instead.’ And you, embarrassed, will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table.”
“Do this instead – start at the foot; and when your host sees you he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place than this for you!’ Thus you will be honoured in front of all the other guests. For everyone who tries to honour himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be honoured.”
Luke 14:7-11
“Humble men are very fortunate!” Jesus told them, “For the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. Those who mourn are fortunate! For they shall be comforted. The meek and lowly, humble and gentle are fortunate! For the whole wide world belongs to them.”
Matthew 5:3-5
Jesus said, “Happy are those who long for justice for they shall surely have it. Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. Happy are those who strive for peace – they shall be called the sons of God.”
Matthew 5:6-9
Jesus said, “What happiness there is for you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours! What happiness there is for you who are now hungry, for you are going to be satisfied. What happiness there is for you who weep, for the time will come when you shall laugh with joy.”
Luke 6:20-21
Then Jesus turned to his host, “When you give a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbours. For they will return the invitation. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who can’t repay you.”
Luke 14:12-14
HUMBLE YOURSELF IN LIKE MANNER OF
A LITTLE CHILD
The disciples came to Jesus to ask which of them would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus called a small child over to him and set the little fellow down among them, and said, “Unless you turn to God from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore anyone who humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And any one of you who welcomes a child like this because you are mine, is welcoming me and caring for me.”
Matthew 18:1-5
When they were settled in the house where they were to stay, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
But they were ashamed to answer, for they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called them around him and said, “Anyone wanting to be the greatest must be the least – the servant of all!”
Then he placed a little child among them; and taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me!”
One of his disciples, John, told him one day, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons; but we told him not to, for he isn’t one of our group.”
“Don’t forbid him,” Jesus said, “For no one doing miracles in my name will quickly turn against me. Anyone who isn’t against us is for us. If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s – I say this solemnly – he won’t lose his reward.”
Mark 9:33-41
Now came an argument among them as to which of them would be the greatest (in the coming Kingdom). But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he stood a little child beside him and said to them, “Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness.” His disciple John came to him and said, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons. And we told him not to. After all, he isn’t in our group.”
But Jesus said, “You shouldn’t have done that. For anyone who is not against you is for you.”
Luke 9:46-50
Jesus said, “If any of you causes one of these little ones who trust in me to lose his or her faith, it would be better for you to have a rock tied to your neck and be thrown into the sea.”
“Woe (disaster, distress, sorrow and suffering) upon the world for all its evils. Temptation (attraction to think and) do wrong is inevitable, but woe (disaster, distress, sorrow and suffering) to the man or woman who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin (to disobey God’s Laws), cut it off and throw it away. Better to enter heaven crippled than to be in hell with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out, and throw it away. Better to enter heaven with one eye than to be in hell with two.”
Matthew 18:6-9
Jesus said, “If someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to lose his or her faith – it would be better for that man or woman if a huge millstone were tied around his or her neck and that he or she were thrown into the sea.”
“If your hand does wrong, cut it off. Better to live forever with one hand than be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot carries you towards evil (when disobeying God’s Laws), cut it off. Better be lame and live forever than have two feet that carry you to hell.”
“And if your eye is sinful, gouge it out. Better enter the Kingdom of God half blind than to have two eyes and see the fires of hell, where the worm never dies, and the fire never goes out – where all are salted with fire. Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can’t season anything. So don’t lose your flavour! Live in peace with each other.”
Mark 9:42-50
(Note: These figures of speech show the need for personal discipline. We must get rid of sinful desires at whatever the cost: anything that causes us to disobey God’s Laws. Here, the hand stands for action, the foot stands for conduct and the eye stands for desire.)
Jesus said, “Beware that you don’t look down upon a single one of these little children. For I tell you that in heaven their angels have constant access to my Father. And I, the Son of Mankind, came to save the lost.”
“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? And if he finds it, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine others safe at home! Just so, it is not my Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
Matthew 18:10-14
Jesus said, “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.”
Matthew 5:42
Jesus said, “Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t worry about getting them back. Treat others as you want them to treat you.”
Luke 6:30-31
Jesus said, “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1
Jesus said, “When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites, the pretenders do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you in all earnestness, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly – don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. And your Father who knows all secrets will reward you.”
Matthew 6:2-4
MAINTAIN YOUR HIGH QUALITY OF GODLY
LIVING
Jesus said, “You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavour, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
Matthew 5:13
DO GOOD THINGS TO AND FOR OTHERS
Jesus said, “You are the world’s light – a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16
MAKE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN YOUR
PRIMARY CONCERN BY OBEYING GOD
Jesus said, “Don’t store your profits here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value, and are safe from thieves. If your profits are in heaven your heart will be there too.”
Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus said, “The Law of Moses says, ‘If a man gouges out another’s eye, he must pay with his own eye. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the one who did it.’ But I say: Don’t resist violence! If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other too. If you are ordered to court, and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too.”
Matthew 5:38-40
Jesus said, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, let him slap the other too! If someone demands your coat, give him your shirt besides.”
Luke 6:29
Jesus said, “If the military demand that you carry their gear for one sector, carry it for two sectors.”
Matthew 5:41
Jesus said, “Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. When you are reviled and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers – wonderful! Be happy about it! Be very glad! for a tremendous reward awaits you up in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted too.”
Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus said, “What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine! When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For you will have a great reward awaiting you in heaven. And you will be in good company – the ancient prophets were treated that way too.”
Luke 6:22-23
Jesus said, “For the world does hate me, because I accuse it of sin (disobeying God’s Laws) and evil.”
John 7:7
Jesus said, “There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels, dishonest and unscrupulous persons do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen, the ungodly and immoral do that.”
Matthew 5:43-47
Jesus said, “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the godless do that!”
Luke 6:32
Jesus said, “Listen, all of you. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse and wish to inflict harm on you; implore God’s blessing on those who hurt you.”
Luke 6:27-28
Jesus said, “And if you do good only to those who do you good – is that so wonderful? Even sinners, who disobey God’s Laws do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even the most wicked, evil and morally wrong will lend to their own kind for full return.”
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them. And don’t be concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked, evil and morally wrong.”
“Try to show as much compassion as your Father does.”
Luke 6:33-36
Jesus said, “The time is coming – in fact, it is here – when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:32-33
Jesus said, “Yes, I came from the Father into the world and will leave the world and return to the Father.”
John 16:28
Jesus said, “I am to be here a little while longer. Then I shall return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me. And you won’t be able to come where I am.”
John 7:33-34
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A GROWING
SEED
Jesus said, “Here is another story illustrating what the Kingdom of God is like:”
“A farmer sowed his field, and went away, and as the days went by, the seeds grew and grew without his help. For the soil made the seeds grow. First a leaf-blade pushed through, and later the wheat-heads formed and finally the grain ripened, and then the farmer came at once with his sickle and harvested it.”
Mark 4:26-29
THE STORY OF THE THISTLES AND
THE WHEAT
Here is another illustration that Jesus used:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field. But one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too.” “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ ” “ ‘An enemy has done it,’ he explained.” “ ‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked.” “ ‘No,’ he replied.” “ ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30
Then leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples asked him to explain to them the story of the thistles and the wheat.
“All right,” he said, “I am the farmer who sows the choice seed. The field is the world, and the seed represents the people of the Kingdom; the thistles are the people belonging to Satan. The enemy who sowed the thistles among the wheat is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.”
“Just as in this story the thistles are separated and burned, so shall it be at the end of the world: I will send my angels and they will separate out of the Kingdom every temptation, attraction to think or do wrong and all who are evil and ungodly, and throw them into the furnace and burn them. There shall be weeping and gnashing, grinding of teeth, anger and bitter disappointment. Then the godly will shine as the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Let those with ears, listen!”
Matthew 13:36-43
SEPARATION OF THE WICKED FROM
AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS IN THE COMPLETION OF THE AGE
Jesus said, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by a fisherman – he casts a net into the water and gathers in fish of every kind, valuable and worthless. When the net is full, he drags it up on to the beach and sits down and sorts out edible ones into crates and throws the others away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world – the angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, casting the wicked into the fire. There will be weeping and gnashing and grinding of teeth, anger, pain and bitter disappointment.”
Matthew 13:47-50
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD, USE WELL
WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN
Because Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.
“A nobleman living in a certain province was called away to the distant capital of the empire to be crowned king of his province. Before he left he called together ten assistants and gave them each two thousand units of money to invest while he was gone. But some of his people hated him and sent him their declaration of independence, stating that they had rebelled and would not acknowledge him as their king.”
“Upon his return he called in the men to whom he had given the money, to find out what they had done with it, and what their profits were.”
“The first man reported a tremendous gain – ten times as much as the original amount.”
“ ‘Fine!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good man. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, and as your reward, you shall be governor of ten cities.’ ”
“The next man also reported a splendid gain – five times the original amount.”
“ ‘All right!’ his master said, ‘You can be governor over five cities.’ ”
“But the third man brought back only the money he had started with. ‘I’ve kept it safe,’ he said, ‘because I was afraid you would demand my profits, for you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and even confiscating the crops that others plant!’ ‘You lazy rogue,’ the king roared. ‘Hard am I? That’s exactly how I’ll be towards you! If you knew so much about me and how tough I am, then why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so that I could at least get some interest on it?’ ”
“Then turning to the others standing by he ordered, ‘Take the money away from him and give it to the man who earned the most.’ ”
“ ‘But, sir,’ they said, ‘he has enough already!’ ”
“ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘but it is always true that those who have, get more, and those who have little, soon lose even that. And now about these enemies of mine who revolted – bring them in and execute them before me.’ ”
After telling this story, Jesus went on towards Jerusalem, walking along ahead of his disciples.
Luke 19:11-28
MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN
Jesus told several other stories to show what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
“For instance,” he said, “it can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding dinner for his son. Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready he sent messengers to notify everyone that it was time to come. But all refused. So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘Everything is ready and the roast is in the oven. Hurry!’ ”
“But the guests he had invited merely laughed and went on about their business, one to his farm, another to his store; others beat up his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them.”
“Then the angry king sent out his army and destroyed the murderers and burned their city. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honour. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ ”
“So the servants did, and brought in all they could find, good and bad alike; and the banquet hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the wedding robe provided for him.”
“ ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how does it happen that you are here without a wedding robe?’ And the man had no reply.”
“Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing and grinding of teeth, anger, pain and bitter disappointment.’ For many are called but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:1-14
THUS SHALL BE THE LAST FIRST AND THE FIRST LAST
Here is another story illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven.
“The owner of an estate went out early one morning to hire workers for his harvest field. He agreed to pay them a day’s wage and sent them off to work.”
“A couple of hours later he was passing a hiring hall and saw some men standing around waiting for jobs, so he sent them also into his fields, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. At noon and again around three o’clock in the afternoon he did the same thing.”
“At five o’clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more men standing around and asked them, ‘Why have you been idle all day?’ ”
“ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they replied.”
“ ‘Then go on out and join the others in my fields,’ he told them.”
“That evening he told the paymaster to call the men in and pay them, beginning with the last men first. When the men hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wages. So when the men hired earlier came to theirs, they assumed they would receive much more. But they, too, were paid the same amount.”
“They protested, ‘Those fellows worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as those of us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ ”
‘ ‘Friend,’ he answered one of them, ‘I did you no wrong! Didn’t you agree to work at the rate for the day? Take it and go. It is my desire to pay all the same. Is it against the law to give away my money if I want to? Should you be angry because I am kind?’ And so it is that the last shall be first, and the first, last.”
Matthew 20:1-16