Reading
SAA Notes
In this section Jesus opposes the teaching of the Pharisees. They began to teach because the priesthood of their day was filled with time-servers and unbelievers. Jesus gives the heart of the Old Testament message in His replies to Pharisee teaching. Notice God’s concern with the inner man.
SJA Notes
* Dear God, thank You for Your word. Please show us today how to live.
“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
The depth of God’s law is made clear here by Jesus.
Remember that Jesus is God in the person of the Son.
Remember that Jesus is God’s word become flesh.
And here is delves deep into the truth of commands given in the old testament.
The commands are not shown to be wrong, or devoid of meaning.
Rather, Jesus shows us just how deep God’s law goes.
Right to the HEART and TRUTH of the matter.
It is the heart of man that the law speaks to, rather than simply the outward appearance.
This is God’s word to us.
Let us flee from wrong thoughts towards those around us.
Let our word be true, and resist the urge to promise this or that.
Let us wrestle with what true love means, looking to how God loved us.
From Romans chapter 5 we read,
“… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is love.
* Father God Above,
Thank You that Your word, from start to finish, is deep and wide with truth and meaning.
Thank You that Your word is valuable to us every day. You write Your word upon our hearts Lord God – Thank You!
Thank You that Your word is our bedrock for every aspect of our lives.
Please help us to be a people grounded in Your word.
Amen.