The Seriousness of Divorce

What Jesus Said - The Sermon on the Mount

God restores, forgives and perseveres with you. The same is required in marriage and with children. Faithfulness and care for others, not just your own desires, is developed and rooted in marriage. Marriage is that important!  Divorce is not taken lightly for that reason. 

Matthew 5:31-32 (TLB) 31 “The law of Moses says, ‘If anyone wants to be rid of his wife, he can divorce her merely by giving her a letter of dismissal.’ 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, except for fornication, causes her to commit adultery if she marries again. And he who marries her commits adultery.

9/28/2025

What Comes Before Adultery

 

What Jesus Said - The Sermon on the Mount

Adultery doesn’t just appear, it comes after letting lustful thoughts linger and consume you (and sex is just one way of lusting). Jesus said when the thoughts come, stop them immediately. You approach it with the seriousness of metaphorically gouging out your own eye.

Matthew 5:27-30 (TLB) 27 “The laws of Moses said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even if it is your best eye!—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. Better for part of you to be destroyed than for all of you to be cast into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your right hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better that than find yourself in hell.

9/21/2025

Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law

 

What Jesus Said - The Sermon on the Mount

Jesus, named “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” was sent to create a better understanding of the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. The road to God’s freedom is not always fast, but the most important road to take. 

Matthew 5:17-19 (TLB) 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true. 18 With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. 19 And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

8/31/2025

Come to Terms Quickly with your Enemy

What Jesus Said - The Sermon on the Mount

Jesus said murder is rooted in, and cultivated from, simple every day anger. This is best handled day to day:  Admit you are angry or have wronged another. Go to the other person(s).  Discuss, apologize, forgive. God will bless your efforts as you do it his way.

Matthew 5:21-26 (TLB) But I have added to that rule and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgment! If you call your friend an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 “So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and he drags you into court and you are thrown into a debtor’s cell, 26 for you will stay there until you have paid the last penny.

9/14/2025

Blind to God's Mercies, Love and Kindness

 

The Sermon on the Mount - What Jesus Said

It is good to have knowledge and principles you consistently uphold, but the Pharisees were negatively focused on rule following. They were blind to the mercies, love and kindnesses God extended to them all through history. This made them a menace to themselves and others.

Matthew 5:20 (TLB) “But I warn you—unless your goodness is greater than  that of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can’t get into the Kingdom of heaven at all!

9/7/2025