Guiding Principles of the Kingdom

Matthew 5-7
Unique composition of citizens of the Kingdom - Matthew 5:3-12
- Blessed are:
  - Poor in spirit - humility
  - Mournful
  - Hungry and thirsty
  - Merciful
  - Pure in heart
  - Peacemakers
  - Persecuted for righteousness
  - Persecuted for Christ
- You are:
  - Salt of the earth
  - Light of the world
God’s plan for saving man:
- Hear the gospel - Romans 10:17
- Believe Jesus is the Son of God - Mark 16:16
- Repent from sin - Acts 17:30
- Confess faith in Christ - Romans 10:9-10
- Be baptized - I Peter 3:21
- Live faithfully unto God - Revelation 2:10
Superior righteousness of the Kingdom - Matthew 5:17-48
- Must be inward, spiritual, and real - not outward, routine, and ceremonial
  - Six illustrations
    - Law of anger/hate in heart - Matthew 5:21-26
    - Law of lust in heart - Matthew 5:27-30
    - Law of oath-breaking in heart - Matthew 5:31-32
    - Law of oath-taking - Matthew 5:33-37
    - Law of retaliation - Matthew 5:38-42
    - Law of merciful kindness - Matthew 5:43-48
The secret of the practice of true religion - Matthew 6:1-18
- Performed to please God, not man
  - Almsgiving - Matthew 6:1-4
  - Prayer - Matthew 6:5-15
  - Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
Pitfalls to avoid - Matthew 6:19-7:6
- Hoarding - Matthew 6:19-34
  - Anxious grabbing for things of this life
    - Learn to trust God
    - Seek the kingdom
- Faultfinding - Matthew 7:1-5
  - Passing unwarranted severe, critical judgments
    - Self inspect and correct
    - Practice mercy
- Wasteful spending - Matthew 7:6
  - Giving the precious to the uncouth
Two great sources of power and usefulness to be sought - Matthew 7:7-12
- Prayer - Matthew 7:7-11
  - Towards God
- Golden rule - Matthew 7:12
  - Towards man
Hope’s one foundation
- Hear and heed the Word - Matthew 7:13-27
  - Destruction of those who won’t
  - Production of those who will

For further study, see also: