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