“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
This morning I'm reading Resenters, Resisters, and the Pride Divide (Daniel Henderson), this verse came up as an explanation why people resent and resist prayer movements. I've been praying for wisdom regarding work I'm doing to share truths of Christianity with my co-workers. One way I'm doing this is through contrast, using Jesus technique of "you have heard, but I say"
Jesus spoke as one who knew and loved the truth and hated all error (Heb 1:7, 8). Notice the impression the sermon had on the people who originally heard it:
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:28-29).
I have a question, "When is a thief no longer a thief?"
- the world says, "when he stops stealing" but the Bible says "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." Eph 4:28
"But I Say Unto You" is a great resource regarding the sermon on the mount.
"Jesus gave the full meaning of the law and the prophets in regard to personal morality. The scribes and Pharisees had perverted the righteousness which God has always expected of His people (see Matthew 5: 20). Their representations as to the meaning of the divine ethics were misleading the people and Jesus set about to correct them. To consider the Sermon on the Mount as the charter of a new and different system of morality for God’s people is to ignore the obvious meaning and declaration by Jesus himself (Matt. 5: 17, dm). This analysis is confirmed by what Jesus said toward the end of the sermon: ‘The Golden Rule - “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matt. 7: 12 ESV)" (War and Conscience, Allen Isbell, p. 142).
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