Category Archives: Sermon on the Mount

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them“ (Matthew 6:7-8a, ESV) The previous devotion considered the issue of repetition in prayer. Yet this teaching brings up a question? Does the teaching thatContinue reading “Persistent Prayer?”

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7, ESV) In my previous devotion, we looked at two reasons that prayer will miss the mark in connecting with the Father. The first was an obvious one,Continue reading “Meaningful Prayer”

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.“ (Matthew 6:5, ESV) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught someContinue reading “Missing the Prayer Connection”

” “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.“ (Matthew 6:1, ESV) The expression “Drive for show, putt for dough,” comes from the golf world. It means that the most productive part of theContinue reading “Not for Show”

“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”