Category: Matthew

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jesus begins this sermon with a benediction – it’s not at the end as is usual in sermons. Jesus has come to bless. He ends His sermon with warnings of the curse. What beatitude speaks most to you? Why?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please teach us this morning from Your word.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

Jesus opens His sermon on the mount with blessings clearly articulated.

These blessings are coin-truths.

Blessing for those described.

However.

If you are NOT poor in spirit, be warned.

If you are NOT mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peace-making, persecuted for righteousness’ sake, reviled and mocked and scorned because of Jesus – If these are foreign to you, be careful!

Jesus points us to a very hard word,

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

So let us be exhorted today, to be salt and light in this world, powered by and able to because of Jesus, withstanding temptations that the world throws at us in God’s strength.

Don’t be salt that has lost its saltiness!

Don’t be light hidden under a basket!

We have the good news of Jesus – Let us share it to all around us.

* Loving Father,

We come before You in repentance and belief. Please save and sanctify us today Lord God, and onwards.

Please mark us as a faithful people, salty salt and unhindered light in this world – Shining Jesus to the world around us.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In the Arabah (desert), Jesus overcame the Devil’s testing. The Arabah is where Israel covenanted to be eternally faithful to the Lord – a covenant they were unable to keep even for a generation. This is where Israel camped before crossing to Jericho. He came to His own as David’s anointed heir!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please open our ears to hear Your word to us today.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew shows us the practical outworking of Jesus being God’s word become flesh.

Satan tries to tempt Jesus, using scripture. Imagine that!

But God’s word is TRUTH.

Jesus shows us that although people might be able to use the Bible to twist and turn arguments, doubting God’s goodness, doubting His order and control, doubting that He is worthy of trust – Even with this, His word is alive and active and powerful to refute bad doctrine and evil temptation.

Jesus was the greatest of preachers.

And it is healthy and wise for us to listen to His preaching.

It is the same message that His cousin, John the Baptist, preached.

Repent and believe!

* Father Above,

Thank You for calling us through Jesus.

Please mark us as people with repentance and belief in our hearts.

Please help us to preach Your message to those around us. Our livers living sacrifices, pointing in every part to Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Observe the similarities between Samuel’s anointing of David and Saul as King with their subsequent anointing of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus’ baptism (an anointing) by God’s prophet as Israel’s King (and Priest) with the subsequent anointing by the Holy Spirit. This is the right biblical way of men becoming kings, priests, and prophets – fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus’ title is the Christ – the Anointed, not the Immersed!

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, please teach us today of our need for You.

“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

John’s message here is the same as we have read through the old testament prophets, and it is the same as what we will read through to the book of Revelation.

Wheat or chaff.

Sheep or goats.

Light or darkness.

Belief or unbelief.

The good news of Jesus is that He saves us from our sin.

The terrible reality of Jesus is what He will winnow the wheat from the chaff, and the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.

This is our King, our Lord, our Saviour – Our God.

* Father God,

Thank You for saving us Your people. Thank You that You continue to sanctify us.

Please wash us clean from the dirt and muck of the day, our own sinful desires that continue to rise up.

Please turn us to You, more and more, little by little, day by day.

Amen.