But what comes out of the mouth proceeds the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander.

Have you ever had someone try to be nice to you just because they wanted something from you? Maybe you were the one trying to be nice to someone to get something form them, such as a discount at some store, trying to get out of that speeding ticket, have someone not tell on you for something bad you did. The list can go on and we can have the same attitude towards God. Yes, God I will read your Word and pray all the time if this one thing happens or I go to church and wear Christian shirts but the way I act, think, and talk are no different than anyone else. The truth is that we can never fool God, we can never con him, or fake him out with our motives. God knows the heart.

As Jesus said this statement about the heart his disciples came up to him to let him know that his statement offended the Pharisees. When you read verses 10-20 that Jesus never apologized to them for offending them, he just spoke the TRUTH. The Pharisees would teach that holiness comes from what you eat and drink and how one would ceremonial wash themselves. They taught that if you followed after what they did then you were holy and clean but if you did not then you were not clean and holy before God. Jesus was teaching the truth behind this, as it is not on the outside of man that defiles him but the inside, the condition of the heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The truth is our heart is sinful and out of the heart comes poor motives to God. The Pharisees were making holiness about what they can do to be holy and Jesus was pointing to the fact that only God can make things holy. The only way you and I can be holy before God is by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is by receiving God grace through faith and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are a new creation in Christ with a new heart and one that can have true motives. When we come before God with a changed heart, we come into the family with freedom. When you are open and honest before God, you have no more guilt, you have nothing to hide, you are not faking him out with your “good boy” or “good girl” facade. Being fake may work in front of some people but never before God.

Here are some questions to think about:

• How have you tried to fool God in the past?
• God knows the heart, have you repented from your sins?
• When you are honest before God and asked for forgiveness what kind of relationship will you have?
• How relieving is it to know that God knows all things about us and he still loves us? How relieving is it to know we do not have to hide our sin from him and that we can be forgiven of our sin (1 John 1:9)?
• When we free before God, how will this affect our other relationships with friends and family?

In the context of Matthew 14, we are given the account of a few different stories that have been taken to the extreme.

We read from Matthew 14:1-12 about the beheading of John the Baptist.

From verses 13-21 the feeding of 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Imagine that! To be one of the persons in the crowd, starving, wanting food, being impatient, and yet being full from a meal that could feed 2 people, fed 5,000 people.

And from verses 22-33, Jesus walks on water. This is where I want to focus our attention right now.

We read of radical faith in John the Baptist, trusting in God regardless of him dying for a little girl’s birthday present, by deceit from her mother. We see the radical faith of the disciples being obedient to Jesus to bring forth the food for the multitude. And then we see the radical faith of Peter, seeing God on the water, and being able to work up the courage to get out of the boat and to walk towards Jesus.

When reading verses 22-33, we may be saying to ourself, “yeah right, how could someone walk above the water?” Oh you of little faith! The reason we think of it to be impossible is because it is an “off-the-wall” thing to try and to imagine someone walking on water, who isn’t God, but Peter was curious, he wanted to know what was really happening.

What do we learn from this in Matthew 14? Is it the amount of faith that Peter had, and we can learn from that? Yeah sure we can. Is it the power of the Lord that He has the ability to walk on the water? Yes, of course because He is God and the waves bow at His presence. Or is it the small amount of faith that Peter had in relying upon Jesus?

I think it is the last statement. Why do I say that? Because if Peter continued on walking and kept His eyes on Jesus, he would have not started to sink. But because he was distracted by the waves, because he saw the force of the wind tossing and turning, he became afraid. Once he stopped focusing on Jesus, he started to sink and he started to drown.

Peter said to “the ghost”, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” And then when Jesus heard what he said, “Come.” He went onto the water, he saw Jesus, then he saw the wind, and then he sank.

Now there is something in this text that not too many really see. Jesus told him to come, he was obedient but he was not consistent when he went out in his step of faith, but he did not rely fully on the Lord.

When God calls you to be obedient and to take the radical step of faith, do you take that step of faith? Do you go full-hearted or half-hearted?

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “for we walk by faith and not by sight,”. That’s it. There it is. FOR WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT! Peter was walking by sight, he wasn’t walking by faith. He saw the things around him that instilled a trembling fear into him, because he was not walking by faith.

Let us live the example in our own lives, “for we walk by faith and not by sight.”

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

What do you value most in this life? For many, it is their family or friends. For some it may be their iPod, computer, or game system. For others it might be getting good grades. But what do you value most? Here is a good test, if your house was burning down and you could only go in and save 1 thing, what would it be? We all put high value on something or someone.

In the chapter today, Jesus tells 8 parables. Parables are stories that Jesus would tell to make a point. Each of the parables has a meaning that relates to the story. Jesus explains some of the parables(the parable of the sower, The parable of the weeds), but not all of them. Some are easy to understand, others are not. It is wise for us to stop and study these parables.

On of the parables in this chapter that really stands out is the parable of the Hidden Treasure(above). It is a simple story of a man who found a treasure in a field, hid it, sold all that he had, and bought the field with that money. What point is Jesus trying to make?

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Treasure
Obviously this man values whatever treasure it is that he found(we are not told what it is). So valuable was this treasure that the man sold everything in order to have it. In the same way, Heaven is valuable. There is nothing greater that anyone can value more than Heaven. Heaven is not just a place, but also the presence and glory of the only God of Heaven and Earth. Its value is beyond description or measure. Nothing even comes close in comparison.

In his joy he sells all that he has and buys that field
The knowledge that this man had about the treasure that he found gave him joy. So much joy in fact, he was probably excited to sell all of his possessions to gain that treasure. There was joy in the sacrifice. Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” The life that Jesus calls us to is one where we give up our lives and submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior. If we want the eternal life that Jesus offers, we must submit our lives now to Jesus. If you value Heaven, if you have a right view of what we gain from a life submitted to Christ, you will have joy. If you are not excited about Heaven and if you do not understand all that we gain in Jesus, you will not have joy.

What do you value most? Do you value Heaven? Would you do anything that you could to go there? Make Heaven valuable to you. Make Christ valuable in your life. Center your life in Him and give your life to Jesus. You wont regret it!

Matthew 12:50 “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

My sister and I used to be so mean to our younger brother. When he was young we would pick on him and tell him that he was adopted. I know that this is a common thing among siblings but there were a few times we had him convinced. I always wondered what it would be like to find out one day that your parents are not your actual parents. I know being adopted does not make you any less part of the family but I still think it would be shocking.

In this short little section in Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus teaches us an important lesson. Earlier in the chapter Jesus made the Pharisee’s really mad because he picked some grain and healed a man on the Sabbath. They took the sabbath day very seriously and made a day that God intended for our benefit a burden on the people. And from then on the Pharisee’s were planning to kill Jesus.

But now Jesus is teaching and apparently the crowd is so large and it is so crowded that His own family could not get to Him. So a man told Jesus that His mother and brother were there to talk to Him and Jesus made His reply in 12:49-50(above). What does that mean? Was Jesus disrespecting His Mom when He said that? Jesus was making a point. His point was that even being a part of Jesus earthly family does not earn you salvation. He was not dishonoring His family.

A right relationship with Jesus is the only thing that brings salvation. But, this relationship is not just a verbal acknowledgment of Jesus as Savior. Matthew 7:21 says “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” It would be shocking to say the least to get to die believing is Jesus only to stand before God and Him tell you that you are not His son or daughter. It is a belief in Christ that submits to God that saves. It is the will of God that you trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior! Are you part of His family? Look at your life, do you live a life that is honoring to God? What is holding you back?

If Jesus paid it all on the cross and I can not earn God’s favor, why do I need to do the will of God? In Matthew 12:33-37 Jesus talks about a tree that is know by its fruit. You know wether or not a tree is good by the fruit that it produces. A tree that produces apples is an apple tree. A tree that produces Oranges is an Orange tree. In the same way a person is known by how they live their life. A person who does evil is an evil person. A person that acts like Christ is a Christian. When you become a Christian, you become a new person(2 Corinthians 5:17). So if you are a new person, you will act like a new person. If you are not a new person, you will act the same. You are known by your fruits. What kind of fruit does your life produce?

Jesus Brings Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When I was young my Dad, sister, and I would go on a Backpacking trip up Mt. San Jacinto. Backpacking is the kind of camping that the only things you take is what you can carry in your backpack. This is a relatively easy climb but no matter where you go an 30 pound backpack is still a 30 pound backpack. We would do the best we could getting up the Mountain but we would have to stop every 15 minutes or so to rest and take a breath. We needed rest because of the burden on our backs.

Are you carrying a burden right now? The religious leaders back in Jesus’ time made up many rules and added them to the Law that were burdens on the people. These Laws were not given by God but by men and were therefore not what God required. Jesus tells the the people that are with Him “Come to me, all who labor and heavy laden.” This would have got the attention of everyone around Him. He is saying the same to you! Do you feel like you are not good enough? Are you struggling with sin and cant seem to ever win that battle. Do you beat yourself up because you don’t pray, read the Bible, or go to church enough? Jesus is talking to you! He wants to give you rest!

“… and I will give you rest” is the next statement out of Jesus mouth. He want to give you rest from these burdens. Are you resting in Jesus? How can you rest in Jesus? “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus tells us how to rest in Him.

1. Take His Yoke
-A yoke is the tool used to tie 2 oxen to a plow(pictured above). Jesus wants us to attach ourselves to Him. Let Him help carry our burden.
2. Learn from Jesus
-We learned from Matthew 5 that Jesus is our teacher(but not just our teacher). As we attach ourselves to Him we must learn from Him and let Him lead us and direct us. Jesus will guide us gently and humbly as we attach ourselves to Him. He will never give us more of a burden than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13)

If we do these things we will find rest. This does not mean that we no longer have to work. When I would go on those backpacking trips my Dad would carry almost everything. All I would have to carry was my clothes and sleeping bag in my backpack. My burden was light because my Dad shouldered the heavy stuff. In the same way our Heavenly Father has shouldered the heavy stuff for us. He paid for our salvation with His Son. But we still need to do our part in this life. We can be free of guilt and shame because it has been paid for but we still need to live how Christ teaches us to live through the power of Jesus given to us by the Holy Spirit!

Reading through chapters 8 and 9 we see many different miracles Jesus was doing. He would heal the blind and they would see, he would raise the dead, the lame would walk, and even calm storms. He was a busy man, who knew how to spend his time. At the end of chapter 9 we read these words, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction (vs 35).” So yes, he was busy.

Jesus actually must have been wiped. He would see many different diseases, many people hurt, many people who needed healing. There was no one that was too sick, or too far along for Jesus to heal. Jesus was and is the healer. And as Jesus was healing the sick, fixing the broken hearted, there was still a lot more to do. A crowd started to gather and as Jesus still saw so much hurt and need he did not grow frustrated, in fact we read in vs 36 that, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” I love that Jesus never was weary or complained about the sick and needy, yet you and I can complain about the needy and being a nuisance.

As Jesus went from having compassion he also used this opportunity to talk with his disciples. We read in vs 37, Then he said to his disciples, “The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He was saying, “Alright guys, do you not see there is much work to be done.” Then he told them to pray for the Lord to send out laborers. As Jesus then turned it to his disciples the question remains for us.

1) There are the sick, the dying of sin, those that need spiritual healing. What are you going to do about it? Maybe you are too self-absorbed to notice the friend next to you that is hurting. Maybe you see stuff going on at school but instead of seeing sheep without a shepherd, you just do not care. Jesus, the chief shepherd cared and was seeing what the disciples would do. Just like our teacher we need to be aware of those in spiritual need. It starts with the burden, it will produce an action.

2) We can not grow annoyed of the needy. Jesus did not get annoyed or pass them off, instead he had compassion on them. As there are many that needed saving, Jesus was the answer. It is so easy to grow impatient and annoyed, but remember, Christ was not with you. He endured and had compassion on me and you, a wretched sinner. Remember the cross every time and it will refresh your soul.

3) Pray for laborers and when you do, guess what, it is you. When you pray for others and for needs to be met, God has His way and making you the answer of that prayer.  I can recount many times that I would pray for the needs of others and the Holy Spirit puts it on my heart to help those that I can. We just need to be willing.

Isaiah 6:8-9 says, “The I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here am I. Send me’.”

The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few! Alright family, there is much to do, let’s get going, let’s help those we can spiritually!

Matthew 8:20 “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Soon after Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, He went down the mountain and began to heal many people. The first 17 verses of this chapter are all about the many miraculous healing Jesus performed. He did this to fulfill the prophecy given in Isaiah 53:4 as we are told in verse 17.

After that Jesus runs into a scribe that was very eager to follow Jesus. He tells Jesus that he would follow Him wherever Jesus went. That seems like a worthy goal and ambition but in the end the scribe did not know what he was getting into. Jesus then faces the scribe with a harsh reality that might mess up the plans of the scribe in verse 20(quoted above). Scribes were among religious leaders of the time and were highly educated. They were typically teachers of the Law. I am sure they, like the Pharisees, enjoyed the finer things of life.

Jesus response then would have been very discouraging for the scribe to hear. Jesus basically says “look, I have fewer comforts in life than most wild animals. Foxes and birds have a better living situation than I do.” The message that Jesus was trying the get across to this scribe was that following Him would mean big sacrifices. And that is what Jesus is saying to us today.

I doubt anyone would say that following Jesus is the easiest thing they have ever done. In fact, most might say that it is the hardest thing they have ever done. Following Jesus is a hard life, but it is the best life. Following Jesus may mean that you have to give up some comfort in your life but Jesus promises Joy(not happiness) and peace to all who do. Many times, in an effort to bring more people to Christ, Christians will lie to people about what Jesus requires. They leave out the parts about sacrifice and persecution counting the cost and bearing your cross. Following Jesus is difficult. It requires sacrifice.

The next guy that Jesus ran into wanted to wait until his father had died to follow Jesus. Jesus’ response in verse 22 could be read “don’t wait, follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury the physical dead.” There will always be an excuse to not follow Jesus completely. This “disciple” most likely wanted to wait because he knew he would not get his inheritance if he left. He also did not want to disappoint his father. What is your excuse? What is holding you back from completely surrendering to Jesus? Are you afraid of what it might cost you? The life that Jesus offers is a difficult life full of hardship, but it is the best life.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

This is one the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. This is the favorite line of non Christians when they are told that they are sinners. “Don’t judge me man!” That is usually how it goes. It is also a favorite of Christians who are allowing sin in their lives. If it is not understood by most and it means something other than what Jesus actually said, what does it mean?

The judgement that Jesus talks about here is not judging if what a person is doing is bad, or calling them a liar because they have lied, or a thief because they stole something. The word that Jesus used for “judge” carries with it a sense of finality. Jesus is talking here about the final judgment where God tells you wether or not you are going to Heaven. Jesus was directing this message the religious leaders of the day who loved to tell people if they were going to Heaven or not. And they based it all on what the people were doing. It was based on works.

Jesus is essentially saying “You do not get to decide who goes to Heaven. God does. You are not God. God is judge and you are not.” If you were the judge you would then be held to the same standard that you hold everyone else to. And we would have an impossible task of living up to your standards. Instead we are called to live up to God’s standards, which is a righteous life, but God has provided righteousness to us through a relationship with Jesus.

Instead of looking at others and checking to see if they are living a Christian life, we should examine our own lives. That is the point of what Jesus was saying about the “speck in a brothers eye and a log in your own eye.” Test yourself. Use that energy that you would be using to examine other peoples lives and judge yourself. Make sure that you are not allowing sin to rule you in any way, shape, or form.

Does all of this mean that we are not supposed to call out each others sin? If you see sin in another Christians life what should you do? Do you just keep quiet and pray for them? When you have dealt with your own sin, you are then in a position to lovingly confront others about sin in their lives. Galatians 6:1 says “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” We are called to help each other out when it comes to battling sin. Not in a condemning or “I am better than you” way, but in love and compassion. We are called to judge sin.

And if that person rejects what you have to say, Jesus says “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. “ If they ignore you, you are no longer obligated to peruse the issue. Pray for them, that the Lord would change their heart, but if you continue to press and push these people, you are wasting your words. How can you know if a person is hard hearted like that? Only God really knows the condition of a persons heart. That is why we must continue to ask God for wisdom (Matthew 7:7-11).

Here in Matthew 6, Jesus deals with 5 different topics regarding things in the world.

1. He identifies with the poor and encourages to give to the those in need, but to give in a humble manner.

2. Jesus then teaches them how to pray, not a religious hypocrite, but as a humble man going before the throne of God to make intercession.

3. He then, again, shows them how to live a life of faith in the right way by fasting, not so others may see what is going on, but that you can spend that time alone with God.

4. Jesus again deals with the material possessions in the world by saying in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Do not seek the material possession, and do not store up treasure here on earth, but rather, strive for the treasure that you will receive in Heaven.

5. Do not be anxious about what you will do here and what you will do there. Do not stress out about what clothes you will buy, what boyfriend or girlfriend you will have, what video game I should play, what make-up I should wear, those such things do not matter compared to the eternal address you will be living in.

With having said all of that, to sum up everything that Jesus had mentioned up unto this point and looking at the 5 different areas that Jesus touched on in Matthew 6, I think that verse 33 of Matthew 6 is the key element that needs to be stressed more than ever in this day and age. We, as a culture, as a people in the 21st Century, are almost forced to live a life that seeks the tangible possessions on earth, rather than the possession in Heaven.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

What message is Jesus trying to make clear here in Matthew 6? There are a few verses before verse 33 that will help make it more clear.

Jesus, in verses 25-32 talks about how we should not be anxious about our life, what we will eat or what will we drink or even what we will wear. Why does none of this matter when the world tells us that this is all that matters? Jesus asks the question, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” These are things that we are constantly putting at the front of our minds that consumes everything about us.

The young lady says, “I don’t know what to wear,” even when she has a closet full of new clothes waiting to be worn.

The young man will say, “I don’t know which video game to beat next,” or, “I don’t know what girl to go out with next!”

We become consumed with the fashion of today, looking like this celebrity or playing a solo to the newest John Mayer song, wearing the same shoes as Kobe Bryant, getting my venti latte with an add shot of espresso, going to this concert, going here, going there, doing this, doing that…. I’m stressed just thinking about all of this!

But our mindset ought to be on the things above, not on the things below. Pastor Greg Laurie wrote on his twitter page a few days ago, “Our Minds must be in Heaven, but our FEET must be on Earth.” We must not be concerned with the things around us, but rather, the things above us.

So, instead of seeking the “next best thing” seek the Best Thing, in all of the world, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness! When you seek those things, you are promised to find it. And when do you find the kingdom of God as top priority in your life, and when you seek the righteousness of God, all else will seem as vanity, as King Solomon put it. And the things in which you were seeking will be added unto, according to your need.

What happens when I do become anxious about these things Brad? Memorize Philippians 4:6-7!

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”