Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.6 - Ch. 7
Chapter 6 of Matthew is worth reading. One wishes to comment on every verse, but this is a survey study not a multi-volume critique! This chapter discusses giving to the needy, the Lord's Prayer, fasting, laying up earthly treasures instead of heavenly ones, and about not being concerned and anxious concerning all the details of your life. All of these things are spoken of in the TANAKH. Please notice how the Lord's Prayer mentions His Kingdom coming on "earth" as it already is in "heaven". The Kingdom of God, for us humans, will be located on earth, not in heaven! That earthly Kingdom is the Kingdom we wish to serve Yehovah/Yeshua in, as immortals. And we get there by serving Him now, in this fallen world.
Chapter 7 has some very good verses to concentrate on:
The Golden Rule
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
What is this "narrow gate"?
So, the narrow gate or narrow road is the instructions given in Torah. Notice how most people will not find it. Why? Because they are busy following man's religion or no belief at all! See how my simple answer in the beginning of this study is starting to make sense? The choice really is a simple one; "Do you follow man or God?". God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14). He has given us clear, concise instructions. Our reward at the Resurrection is based on how well we have followed these instructions. Please notice; I did not say one's Salvation is based on what works you have accomplished in this life, vis-a'-vis Torah, but on what reward you will have earned at the Resurrection. I have already given four good reasons for following Torah - now we have a fifth one:
1. To show our love for God.
2. To show we are obedient to God.
3. To receive the blessings from God.
4. To be that light that shines for others.
5. To store up rewards for the Resurrection.
Again, the Church teaches that your Salvation and Rewards are one and the same, but they are not. Salvation is the free gift from Yeshua, most certainly not to be diminished in importance, but it is the beginning of the race, not the finish. After acceptance of the free gift and by then following Torah you receive blessings. When we are resurrected we receive the rewards based on how well we have followed Torah when compared to our sins.
A Tree and Its Fruit
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Since one who commits sin is not following Torah and one who follows Torah is practicing "Righteousness" then we should be able to discern the difference. (See first blog entry)
I Never Knew You
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
What is this word; "lawlessness", and why would Yeshua tell people to deny the Father's will, as the Church teaches, concerning Torah? The answer is; He doesn't! He states it right here, emphatically, "but the one who does the will of my Father ...." And that word; lawlessness? In GREEK it is: "anomia", which means being in violation of the law - unrighteousness. This could not be any clearer, folks. Yeshua tells us plainly again and again that by following the instructions of Torah, we will be following the will of the Father!
Build Your House on the Rock
Mat 7:24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
Why is a firm foundation mentioned in the same context as Torah? Because Torah is that foundation!
The Observer
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