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The Sermon on the Mount: Light of the World

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp, and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that...

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Sermon on the Mount: The Salt of the Earth

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”   In some ways, this verse and verse 14 after it are the beginning of the Sermon on the...

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Sermon on the Mount: True Righteousness and Persecution

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted...

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Sermon on the Mount: Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”   Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Last week we defined purity of heart as being undivided, having our hearts set on God and God alone, making Him the one object of our affection,...

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Sermon on the Mount: A Pure Heart To See God

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Today we continue to climb the ladder of the beatitudes by arriving at vs. 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” As we are climbing this ladder we are seeing that the condition that God blesses leads...

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Sermon on the Mount: The Cause and Effect of Mercy

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”   Last week we began our discussion on mercy by concentrating on the mercy that God has given and continually gives to each one of us. The fact that we are alive is the mercy of God; the air we breathe, the world we...

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Sermon on the Mount: Where Mercy Begins

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”   Have you ever seen the kid’s game “mercy”? It’s terrible actually. It is two people locking hands and then inflicting pain until somebody asks for “mercy”.  I played it with my friends, I’ve played it with Noah, the truth is that it’s named...

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Sermon on the Mount: Hunger and Thirst . . . For Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”   For years many of you have heard me close out prayers, both corporate and personal, with the words of Psalm 23:3 lead me, or lead us “in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.” It’s a prayer that...

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Sermon on the Mount: What is Meekness?

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”   Brokenness leads to mourning which, according to Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount leads to meekness. We have defined brokenness or being poor in spirit as seeing the beauty of Jesus so fully that we recognize that we possess nothing of...