Gospel of Matthew, Part II
Pure Heart and Blessed
Bible Verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) --- Comment: Singular and unadulterated devotion to God and His words as a blessing; About the Beatitudes
Peacemakers and Blessed
Bible Verse: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) --- Comment: Workers for peace as children of God; About the Beatitudes
Righteousness and Fortitude and Blessed
Bible Verse: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10) --- Comment: True followers of Christ and blessed; About the Beatitudes
Salt of the Earth
Bible Verse: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” (Matthew 5:13) --- Comment: About Christian living by making an honest, principled effort to make life better for everyone
A Candle for the House
Bible Verses: “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15) --- Comment: About Christian living by sharing one’s time, effort and resources to the community and those in need
WORD
Bible Verse: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18) --- Comment: The WORD eternal
Do not Swear
Bible Verses: “… I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.” (Matthew 5:34-35) --- Comment: Swearing as a no-no
Colors of our Lord
Bible Verses: “… I say unto you, Swear not at all… Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.” (Matthew 5:34, 36) --- Comment: Don’t swear; Be aware of yourself
Just Like Father
Bible Verses: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust… Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-45 and 48) --- Comment: About Christian living and the process of perfection
My Heart Belongs to God
Bible Verses: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) --- Comment: About treasures of the heart and love for God; To be with God or not to be with God: that is the question
Fashionable Flowers and King Solomon
Bible Verses: “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29) --- Comment: Worry not, God is there for us; About worry vis-à-vis trust in God
Ask, Seek and Knock
Bible Verses: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) --- Comment: Finding God
Healing According to Your Faith
Bible Verses: “And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.” (Matthew 9:27-30) --- Comment: Believe; About Jesus the Healer
First Twelve Apostles
Bible Verses: “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:2-4) --- Comment: The first twelve apostles of Christ with Peter the Rock as leader and with Judas Iscariot as the one who betrayed Christ
Real Value in You
Bible Verses: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [knowing]. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31) --- Comment: In the image and likeness of God; About God who knows and sees everything
The Way of Love
Bible Verse: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38) --- Comment: About discipleship and the way forward for the true followers of Christ
Proclaim the Good News
Bible Verse: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39) --- Comment: Preaching the good news of salvation, and life through Christ, life with Christ and life in Christ Jesus; To life!
Pearl Kingdom
Bible Verses: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46) --- Comment: About the real value of God’s kingdom or the kingdom of heaven
Come Together in Jesus Name
Bible Verses: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20) --- Comment: The power of group prayer in Jesus name