Matthew 5:21-37

 ***Week 2 Memory Verse***

If your right eye causes you to sin,

pluck it out and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin,

cut it off and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 

Matthew 5:29-30

 

 

READ MATTHEW 5:21-37!

 

Today, four different areas of sin are referenced.  1) Murder, 2) Adultery, 3) Breaking of the marriage vows, 4) Making Oaths outside of Jesus.  All four can arise in our heart when seeds become planted; all can and will bring spiritual death:

 

When we call out to the Lord for salvation, we ask Him into our heart.   Daily we should ask the Lord to protect our heart; ask Him to protect His investment in us.  Ultimately we want Jesus to fill every crevice of our heart, leaving no space for seeds of evil (sin), to be planted there.

 

Matt 22:37-38, Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.”

Deut. 6:5,  Love the lord God with all your heart, all your soul , and all your strength.  

This seems pretty clear to me.  If we are full of the Lord, and we put Him first, there is no room for evil.   Easy to say…. Right?  Temptation is at every corner and our lives are often hectic.

 See Psalm 119:1-3, & 11

These three areas, our heart, our soul, and our mind create a three- fold cord representing your whole person….’Who you are’.  The first and most important of these as listed in the scripture is your heart, the vital key. 

Our spiritual heart can be easily compared to our physical heart.   According to Webster’s Dictionary, our physical heart is a hollow muscular organ that receives and pumps blood.  It is the center, and most inner part of our body, its  vital.  Our spiritual heart, prior to salvation was also hollow, void of life.  Once Jesus came in he filled our heart with new life and we have a responsibility to cultivate that seed of life in our heart.  Remember if we are full of life, there is no room for death.

 

See Col 3: 12-17      ……14But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,…...

 

 

TIME OF REFLECTION:

Phil 4:6-8  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

·         Ask the Lord to search your heart!

·         Identify parts that may not be fully in surrender to Him.

·         Ask Him to purge & heal your heart bringing in life anew.

·         Don’t forget your heart is where life is generated!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TERI GORUM is the wife of 25 years to Sheldon, and the mom of 2 daughters in college.  She attends Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, TX and has been attending since 2000.