• Review of last week

    • Importance of attitudes

    • God always wanted our hearts

    • Evolution of law

  • Love your neighbor – but who exactly is my neighbor?

    • Love God, love your neighbor

      • James 1:12 – Love God! The crown of life is promised to those who love Him.

      • I John 3:17 – Love your neighbor. It’s not stated directly, but is clearly there.

      • I John 4:21

      • Specific laws under Old Covenant: Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18

      • Luke 10:25-37 – parable of the good Samaritan

  • Sermon on the mount

    • Matthew 5-7

    • Beatitudes: A progression of attitudes > salvation

    • Admonitions: Jesus amplifies points of law.

      • States the “understood”

      • Goes to the root law

      • Reveals attitudes in which law is based

    • Poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3)

      • Is that an attitude? Matthew 18:1-3; Micah 6:8; Revelation 3:17-18

        • Yes! Poor in spirit means humility before God.
      • What will it motivate one to do?

        • Recognize need for God’s guidance

        • Know that one has found rock bottom

        • Naaman Syndrome (II Kings 5)

          • In haughtiness – form of worship

          • In humility – extreme shows of dedication

    • Those who mourn (Matthew 5:4)

      • Why do they mourn?

      • II Corinthians 7:9-10

      • Some translations: sorrow = grief

    • The meek (gentle) (Matthew 5:5)

      • Power under total control

        • Not imposing

        • Moses

        • Jesus – John 18:22-23

        • Proverbs 25:8, 15

        • James 3:13