4/26/12

An alternative way of thinking!!


 Have you bought gas in the last couple of weeks?  If so, you were in for a shock; with prices about $4.00 a gallon, a $50.00 fill up has become "normal".  But, so what?  Prices change, we adapt.  Not very pleasant, but we will adapt.  Personally, I think you should use some of our own vast reserves of oil and pass laws that make it profitable to use alternative energies.  Whatever happens, the following passage penned by the apostle Paul is still appropriate...


Phillipians Chapter 4
  8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.  9 The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.  11 Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. 12 I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.  13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.  14 However you did well that you shared in my affliction.  15 You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.  17 Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.  18 But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.  19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Like Paul, we need to focus our energies on good things, not bad.  We need to appreciate what God has given us and be thankful.  Life could be much worse!!!  We could really be thinking like the one who owns the big wheel.  As for me, I intend to read verse eight a few more times today, to remind me what I should really be thinking about!!!!

Apr. 26 Deuteronomy 7, 8


Apr. 26
Deuteronomy 7, 8

Deu 7:1 When Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before you, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you;
Deu 7:2 and when Yahweh your God shall deliver them up before you, and you shall strike them; then you shall utterly destroy them: you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them;
Deu 7:3 neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son.
Deu 7:4 For he will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so the anger of Yahweh would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.
Deu 7:5 But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, and dash their pillars in pieces, and cut down their Asherim, and burn their engraved images with fire.
Deu 7:6 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God: Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deu 7:7 Yahweh didn't set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples:
Deu 7:8 but because Yahweh loves you, and because he would keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, has Yahweh brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that Yahweh your God, he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with them who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,
Deu 7:10 and repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him who hates him, he will repay him to his face.
Deu 7:11 You shall therefore keep the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day, to do them.
Deu 7:12 It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances, and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers:
Deu 7:13 and he will love you, and bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you.
Deu 7:14 You shall be blessed above all peoples: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock.
Deu 7:15 Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, he will put on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
Deu 7:16 You shall consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God shall deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them: neither shall you serve their gods; for that will be a snare to you.
Deu 7:17 If you shall say in your heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?
Deu 7:18 you shall not be afraid of them: you shall well remember what Yahweh your God did to Pharaoh, and to all Egypt;
Deu 7:19 the great trials which your eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which Yahweh your God brought you out: so shall Yahweh your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.
Deu 7:20 Moreover Yahweh your God will send the hornet among them, until those who are left, and hide themselves, perish from before you.
Deu 7:21 You shall not be scared of them; for Yahweh your God is in the midst of you, a great and awesome God.
Deu 7:22 Yahweh your God will cast out those nations before you by little and little: you may not consume them at once, lest the animals of the field increase on you.
Deu 7:23 But Yahweh your God will deliver them up before you, and will confuse them with a great confusion, until they be destroyed.
Deu 7:24 He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name to perish from under the sky: there shall no man be able to stand before you, until you have destroyed them.
Deu 7:25 You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
Deu 7:26 You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.
Deu 8:1 You shall observe to do all the commandment which I command you this day, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers.
Deu 8:2 You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.
Deu 8:3 He humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you didn't know, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh does man live.
Deu 8:4 Your clothing didn't grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years.
Deu 8:5 You shall consider in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so Yahweh your God chastens you.
Deu 8:6 You shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
Deu 8:7 For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills;
Deu 8:8 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey;
Deu 8:9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper.
Deu 8:10 You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Yahweh your God for the good land which he has given you.
Deu 8:11 Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you this day:
Deu 8:12 lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and lived therein;
Deu 8:13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;
Deu 8:14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
Deu 8:15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint;
Deu 8:16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn't know; that he might humble you, and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end:
Deu 8:17 and lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.
Deu 8:18 But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day.
Deu 8:19 It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
Deu 8:20 As the nations that Yahweh makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you wouldn't listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.

Apr. 26, 27 Luke 15


Apr. 26, 27
Luke 15

Luk 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
Luk 15:2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
Luk 15:3 He told them this parable.
Luk 15:4 "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
Luk 15:5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luk 15:6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
Luk 15:7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
Luk 15:8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
Luk 15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'
Luk 15:10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
Luk 15:11 He said, "A certain man had two sons.
Luk 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them.
Luk 15:13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
Luk 15:14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
Luk 15:15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Luk 15:16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
Luk 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
Luk 15:19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants." '
Luk 15:20 "He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Luk 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
Luk 15:23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
Luk 15:24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.
Luk 15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luk 15:26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
Luk 15:27 He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.'
Luk 15:28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
Luk 15:29 But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
Luk 15:30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
Luk 15:31 "He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Luk 15:32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' "

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Eight by Mark Copeland 

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                             Chapter Eight

As Jesus’ ministry in Galilee continues, Matthew describes several
miracles and related events.  Coming down from the mount, Jesus cleansed
a leper (1-4).  Entering Capernaum, He healed a centurion’s servant
(5-13).  Arriving at Peter’s house, He healed his mother-in-law and many
demon-possessed and all who were sick (14-17).  Before crossing the Sea
of Galilee to escape large crowds, Jesus challenged two would-be
disciples (18-22).  After calming the winds and waves of a great tempest
(23-27), He arrived on the other side of the sea where He healed two
demon-possessed men (28-34).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The nature and purpose of the miracles performed by Jesus

   *  The cost of discipleship

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Five miracles in the regions of Galilee and the Gergesenes - Mt
     8:1-17,23-34
   - The cost of discipleship - Mt 8:18-22

2) List the five miracles recorded in this chapter (1-4,5-13,14-17,23-27,
   28-34)
   - Jesus cleanses a leper
   - Jesus heals a centurion’s servant
   - Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (and many others)
   - Jesus calms the wind and the waves
   - Jesus heals two demon-possessed men

3) Before healing the centurion’s servant, what impressed Jesus? (10)
   - The great faith of the centurion who was a Gentile

4) Before healing the servant, what did Jesus foretell? (11-12)
   - Gentiles would enter the kingdom, while many Israelites would not

5) In Peter’s house, who did Jesus heal?  What prophecy was fulfilled?
   (14-17)
   - His mother-in-law, and all the sick that were brought to Him
   - "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses" - Isa
     53:4

6) What two lessons did Jesus teach about discipleship? (19-22)
   - It can mean a life of poverty; it requires precedence over familial
     duties

7) What can we learn about fear and faith, before Jesus calmed the sea?
   (25-26)
   - Fear comes from having little faith

8) Who did the demons acknowledge Jesus to be as He confronted them?
   (29)
   - The Son of God

4/25/12

Hope in the troubled "sea" of life


Have you ever been in a situation where things looked hopeless?  It may have been financial or interpersonal, work or health related, but the key word here is hopeless.  I have been and believe you me, its NOT A GOOD FEELING!!!  It seems like everywhere you turn, whatever you try to do to correct the situation, JUST DOES NOT WORK!!!  Frustration, worry, and depression are your constant companions.  Then, something happens and your world seems to "light up" and you have HOPE!!!  Even though the problem may not be solved yet, your attitudes suddenly change and life becomes good again.  You just know everything is going to work out.  Consider this passage from the book of Acts...

WEB: Acts Chapter 2

[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. [15] For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

[17] ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.


Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.


[18] Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.


[19] I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.


[20] The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
[21] It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’


[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, [23] him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; [24] whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. [25] For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.


[26] Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;


[27] because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.


[28] You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’


[29] “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, [31] he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. [32] This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. [34] For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
[35] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’


[36] “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

[37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

[38] Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” [40] With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
[41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. [43] Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] All who believed were together, and had all things in common. [45] They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. [46] Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

There were many people in Jerusalem on that Pentecost day so long ago and what they saw and heard was astonishing.  Men speaking in languages they had obviously never learned (go to your Bible and see the first thirteen verses of Acts chapter 2). Then Peter explains what it was and what their current state (14-36) and their response is..."Brothers, what shall we do?"  Then, they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins and had HOPE.  They were continually comforted by their fellowship with one another and praised God.  Now, this is not just a story; it actually happened.  God provided hope then and he still does today.  No matter what the problem, no matter how choppy the "sea" of your life is, however black the world around you may appear, if you seek and obey God's will for your life, you WILL FIND HOPE!!!  I can't think of a better thing to think about on this fine spring day than HOPE because it will affect your entire life for the better.  Something to ponder, something to marvel at and to read again and again!!!  I thank God I have hope and I trust that you may as well!!!!

Apr. 25 Deuteronomy 5, 6


Apr. 25
Deuteronomy 5, 6

Deu 5:1 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.
Deu 5:2 Yahweh our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
Deu 5:3 Yahweh didn't make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
Deu 5:4 Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the midst of the fire,
Deu 5:5 (I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to show you the word of Yahweh: for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn't go up onto the mountain;) saying,
Deu 5:6 "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Deu 5:7 You shall have no other gods before me.
Deu 5:8 "You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Deu 5:9 you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;
Deu 5:10 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Deu 5:11 "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Deu 5:12 "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you.
Deu 5:13 You shall labor six days, and do all your work;
Deu 5:14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
Deu 5:15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
Deu 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
Deu 5:17 "You shall not murder.
Deu 5:18 "Neither shall you commit adultery.
Deu 5:19 "Neither shall you steal.
Deu 5:20 "Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor.
Deu 5:21 "Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
Deu 5:22 These words Yahweh spoke to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. He wrote them on two tables of stone, and gave them to me.
Deu 5:23 It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
Deu 5:24 and you said, Behold, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God does speak with man, and he lives.
Deu 5:25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any more, then we shall die.
Deu 5:26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Deu 5:27 Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say: and tell us all that Yahweh our God shall tell you; and we will hear it, and do it.
Deu 5:28 Yahweh heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and Yahweh said to me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you: they have well said all that they have spoken.
Deu 5:29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
Deu 5:30 Go tell them, Return to your tents.
Deu 5:31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
Deu 5:32 You shall observe to do therefore as Yahweh your God has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Deu 5:33 You shall walk in all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

Deu 6:1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it;
Deu 6:2 that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged.
Deu 6:3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Deu 6:4 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:
Deu 6:5 and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Deu 6:6 These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart;
Deu 6:7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deu 6:8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes.
Deu 6:9 You shall write them on the door posts of your house, and on your gates.
Deu 6:10 It shall be, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn't build,
Deu 6:11 and houses full of all good things, which you didn't fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn't dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you didn't plant, and you shall eat and be full;
Deu 6:12 then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Deu 6:13 You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name.
Deu 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you;
Deu 6:15 for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
Deu 6:16 You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.
Deu 6:17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
Deu 6:18 You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers,
Deu 6:19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
Deu 6:20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh our God has commanded you?
Deu 6:21 then you shall tell your son, We were Pharaoh's bondservants in Egypt: and Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
Deu 6:22 and Yahweh showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
Deu 6:23 and he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore to our fathers.
Deu 6:24 Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day.
Deu 6:25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Yahweh our God, as he has commanded us.

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Seven by Mark Copeland 

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                             Chapter Seven

The "Sermon On The Mount" continues with Jesus discussing the
righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to man, with
a warning regarding judging (1-6), the importance of persistence (7-11),
and keeping "the golden rule" (12).  It concludes with exhortations to
enter the kingdom:  choose the narrow and difficult path (13-14), watch
out for false prophets (15-20), do the Father’s will (21-23), being
doers of the Word (24-29).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The nature of judging condemned by Jesus

   *  How Jesus’ "golden rule" differs from that found in other religions

   *  The importance of doing the Father’s will to being saved

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Righteousness with respect to man’s relation to man - Mt 7:1-12
   - Exhortations to enter the kingdom - Mt 7:15-29

2) What sort of judging is Jesus warning against? (1-6)
   - Not all judging, but hypocritical, censorious condemnation (cf. Jn
     7:24)

3) How does Jesus illustrate the need for persistence? (7-11)
   - By literally saying "keep on" asking, seeking, knocking

4) How does Jesus’ "golden rule" differ from that found in other
   religions? (12)
   - Most state it negatively (Don’t do to others what you don’t want
     done to you)

5) Contrast the two "ways" described by Jesus (13-14)
   - The way to life:  narrow gate and difficult way, found by few
   - The way to destruction:  wide gate and broad way, traveled by many

6) How do false prophets operate?  How can we identify them? (15-20)
   - As wolves in sheep’s clothing; by their fruits

7) Who will not enter the kingdom of heaven?  Who will?  (21-23)
   - Many who believed in the Lord, did many great things for Him, but
     practiced lawlessness (i.e., did things without His authority)
   - Those who do the will of His Father in heaven

8) What is the key difference between the wise and foolish listeners?
   (24-27)
   - The wise do what Jesus said, the foolish do not

9) Why were the people astonished at Jesus’ teaching? (28-29)
   - Because He taught as one having authority
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