[Jesus continued:] “Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” —Matthew 5:42 NLT Key Thought In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to a way of life that does not reflect conventional thinking. These radical challenges should not be read legalistically. At the same time, we …
[Jesus continued:] “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” —Matthew 5:41 NLT Key Thought A bitter-hearted rebel lives in many of us. We hate it when someone takes advantage of us. We view the lane-changing, frenzied, aggressive driver as a jerk and sometimes look to get …
[Jesus continued:] “If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.” —Matthew 5:40 NLT Key Thought We have basic rights — at least that’s the assumption many of us operate under as human beings. We get very angry when those basic rights are compromised. Jesus, however, is …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.” —Matthew 5:38-39 NLT Key Thought Jesus’ words …
[Jesus continued:] ” But I say, do not make any vows! … And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is [God’s] footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or …
[Jesus continued:] “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.” —Matthew 5:33-34 NLT Key Thought When we tell God …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” —Matthew …
[After condemning lust, Jesus continued:] “So if your eye — even your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand — even your …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” —Matthew 5:27-28 NLT Key Thought In an era where adultery is considered acceptable, or at least something to be ignored, …
[Jesus continued:] “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have …