Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ” (Matthew 5:38-40, ESV) The fifth principle of theContinue reading “Get Right Not Even”

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” (Matthew 5:37, ESV) The fourth principle of the Law that Jesus discussed is that of telling the truth. The Jews were not to bear false witness. To this, Jesus stated the following. “Again, ye have heard that it hathContinue reading “Integrity”

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31–32, ESV) In my senior year of pursuingContinue reading “Marital Permanence”

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is betterContinue reading “Avoid Temptations of the Heart”

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24, ESV) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarified the intentContinue reading “Making Things Right”

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘YouContinue reading “The Heart of the Matter”

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, ESV) After speaking of Salt and Light, Jesus presented the second main point in the Sermon on the Mount. He stated, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,Continue reading “Requirement for Citizenship”

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they mayContinue reading “The Light of the World”

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” (Matthew 5:13, ESV) Immediately following Jesus’ introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, He brought forth the first major point. The children of the kingdom have a purpose. To explain this, He presented twoContinue reading “Saltiness”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3, ESV) Many today say that Christianity is not about blessing and happiness, and in one context, they are right. Salvation does not guarantee us health, wealth and fame. Yet Jesus begins this Sermon with a statement of fact about theContinue reading “Happy Are the Citizens of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12)”