Lord – Page 31 – Praying Pint

31.r. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you”

Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:31    And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Leviticus 19:18  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Jeremiah 7:5-6   “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,  if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow,

Zechariah 8:16-17   These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;  do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

Ezekiel 18:7-8   does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man,

Micah 6:8     He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Malachi 3:5   “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Romans 13:8-10  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 Timothy 1:5   The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

None but he whose heart is filled with love to God and all mankind can keep this precept, either in its spirit or letter… It seems as if God had written it upon the hearts of all men, for sayings of this kind may be found among all nations, Jewish, Christian, and Heathen.” (Clarke)

“Oh, that all men acted on it, and there would be no slavery, no war, no swearing, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love! What a kingdom is this which has such a law!” (Spurgeon)

Love of self, (who we are, what we do, how we think, what we say) is wrong when it places self above all others. Jesus has just spoken about loving your enemies, being careful how you judge others and not-self, giving to the needy, not being anxious about things in this life, seeking God in faith, and now finishing it with “do onto others as you wish them to do onto you”. We often judge others by their acts and not their intent, and yet we examine ourselves by our intent. When we repent of doing wrong to someone we want them to forgive and forget it. Yet, we feel justified to do the opposite when we have been wronged. Is Jesus Christ honored and glorified by how we treat others and what we think about them? Am I allowing God’s Word to lead and direct my thoughts, actions, and words toward others? Do I dwell on the negative thoughts about others that first pops into my head or am I able to recognize it as a wrong thought and cast it out and replace it with kindness, brotherly love, gentleness, generosity, and peaceful thoughts? If we would have hearts, minds, and souls that desired in all things to honor and glorify Jesus Christ, it is then we would begin to understand the depth of “do onto others as you wish them to do onto you”.

31.q. “For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him”

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Psalms 10:17   O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

Jeremiah 33:3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Psalms 50:15    and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13    Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalms 86:5   For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Isaiah 55:6-7   “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Psalms 69:32  When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

Amos 5:4   For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;

Proverbs 8:17     I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Hebrews 11:6   And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Revelation 3:17-18   For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Yet the image of knocking also implies that there is a door that can be opened. “His doors are meant to open: they were made on purpose for entrance, and so the blessed gospel of God is made on purpose for you to enter into life and peace. It would be of no use to knock at a wall, but you may wisely knock at a door, for it is arranged for opening.” (Spurgeon)

One would think knocking on the door implies that there is someone on the other side of it. Why would a person knock on the door if no one was expected to be there to answer it? How many, though, come and knock with no expectation, but rather to see if anyone is home. Their knock is empty, soundless, and void of belief, trust, faith, and reliance on Jesus Christ. Their knock is not with any expectation, by faith, that Jesus Christ is, out of grace, mercy, and love, waiting for their knock. No, the knock by this person is not in humble surrender to Jesus Christ with a humble believing heart that believes God’s Word; “Knock and it will be opened to you”.

We are invited to a door that leads to the Creator of all there is, All-Powerful, All-knowing Almighty God. Coming to and knocking on this door should be reverent of who is on the other side. How many times do we knock on this door with a heart that is nothing more than an expectant demand? Shouldn’t our knock be humble? Shouldn’t our knock be reverent? Shouldn’t we know we are on holy ground while standing before this door? Are we to stand there with puffed-out chests demanding to be let in and our requests heard? Let it never be so. Let us come before this door with awe, humbleness, belief, trust, and reliance in He who is more than able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Let us examine our hearts before knocking. Let our knock be pure of heart, mind, and soul, and then there will be honor and glory to whom all honor and glory belong.

31.p. “O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you”

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13   “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,  and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Hosea 6:6   For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 12:6   “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Zephaniah 2:3    Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Proverbs 21:3   To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Isaiah 1:16-19    Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,  learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.  “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.  If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

2 Peter 1:5-8   For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalms 73:28    But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

The want to do good needs a foundation. It needs to be based on something firm, lasting, and true. “Doing Good” needs definition. Where are we to find this foundation and definition? What are we to base “good” and “doing good” on? This all depends on where you look and where you are seeking answers from. Worldly good has some benefit but this secular good has little to no eternal foundation. If doing good is for the benefit of another this is good but what is the reason behind the act of goodness? Was it because you feel good after doing it? Was it done because of empathy? Was it a combination of both? Was it done so it could be seen by others and thereby you receive some sort of recognition? The foundation upon which good acts are done is more important. If I do good acts of kindness what is the reason and purpose behind the intentional choice to do them?

The foundation of all good acts should be grounded in the desire to obey and honor and glorify Jesus Christ. It is when this foundation is present in the heart, soul, and mind that the good we do will be for something heavenly and lasting. There is so much to say about being able to discern the leading and being willing led by the Holy Spirit in acts of goodness, but the foundation of all our thoughts, speech, and acts needs to be from a humble and pure heart that believes, trusts, relies, obeys, and follows God’s Word for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

31.o. “Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life”

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Proverbs 23:9   Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Hebrews 10:29    How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 10:29    How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Acts 13:46-47  And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.  For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

In the previous 1-5 vs Jesus talks of being self-righteously judgmental and not being able to assess one’s self with the same judgmental awareness. Here Jesus is reminding us that we are not to suspend all discernment. It seems as though we should be able to discern those who have hardened their rejection of the good news of Jesus Christ. The person who is Holy Spirit led and is living in all things of their life speaking, doing, and thinking so that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified will know when not to speak of the precious things the kingdom of God. This type of discernment comes when our heart, mind, and soul are desiring to show grace, mercy, and love to others so that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified. It is not with a judgmental heart or mind. Yet, it is with this same Holy Spirit heart and mind that leads us to discern people who will trample underfoot godly pearls from the Word of God.

The Gospel was preached and taught by the disciples to the Jews who were hardened in their hearts and spoke evil of Jesus Christ. They would not reason or discuss the prophecies and fulfillment. They denied Christ was the Son of God. They rejected Jesus in person and in His death and in His resurrection. Paul left them and went to the Gentiles. He no longer would cast the pearls of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those hardened against it.

In our own abilities, we are not able to make discernments that only the Holy Spirit can lead us in. We would do well to seek to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit with a desire to be led in all wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and discernment. In this way, our hearts and minds will not be temped with worldly or self-led judgment. The light of Jesus Christ shines bright in the lives of those who show discernment throughout all aspects of their lives for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

I can’t help but think about when I was once one of those who rejected and trampled underfoot things of God. I wonder how many times people were talking with me but the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking about salvation because I was set firmly in my own ways and would have nothing to do with things of God. How many times??? It is hard to tell, it could be 5 times or 10,000 times but this I know, God did not leave me in my hell-bound ways. He brought me to a place in my life where I was ready and He placed people in my life, right at that time, that spoke the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All I can say is that we need to have discernment when to speak and when not to speak. When the Holy Spirit leads us to speak we need to speak boldly and when the Holy Spirit leads us to be quiet we need to be quiet.

31.n. “For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Romans 2:1-2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Jesus warned against passing judgment upon others because when we do so, we will be judged in a similar manner. Judging is wrong in one sense of the word – when in pride (self-worth, self-image, self-honor) you place judgment on another person’s actions or words. In this judgment, you convict, find guilty, and condemn them. You set yourself up as God and give this judgment. What the person may have said or done could have been absolutely wrong, unholy, ungodly, hurtful, and broken laws against society. The problem is not in identifying it as wrong, but rather judging the person with a personal arrogance of self-righteousness in light of what they have done. It would be like the Pharisee that stood up and prayed, “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men— swindlers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector”.

We need to have discernment in order to make an assessment. In this assessment, we will know and understand people by the fruit in their lives as it stands in the light of God’s Word. We seem to get confused by the passage “Judge not” and think we are to unconditionally approve of others’ actions thinking we are “judging them” if we disapprove. Nothing could be further from the truth. We should be able to recognize that which is God-honoring and glorifying and that which is not in all aspects of life. We can discern it is wrong but not judge and condemn the person. When we “judge others” we set ourselves up as God and somehow think our judgment is holy and right and true. Pride, self-worth, and a touch of arrogance all play a part in this “judgment” in any person who does so. None of us are immune to this. We need to be on guard and not go past the ability to discern into “judging”. Once judgment occurs we then think we are allowed to enact our verdict and sentence on the person. We can treat them harshly and feel justified. We can wish harsh and hurtful things to happen to them. We may even feel justified in personally causing harm to them. I want to be clear that we have every right to defend and stop physical harm to others or ourselves. We should never cowardly stand by and not intervene to protect someone. This is not passing judgment but discernment and a God-given command.

It comes down to the spirit in which we examine and judge others. Thinking the worst of them, only seeing their faults, judging their life by their worst moment, judging without considering ourselves in the same light of judgment, are examples of discerning/judging wrongly. When our judgment in regard to others is wrong, it is often not because we judge according to a standard, but because we are hypocritical in the application of that standard – we ignore the standard in our own life. It is common to judge others by one standard and ourselves by another standard – being far more generous to ourselves than others.

When God’s Word is overflowing deep within our heart, soul, and mind and our singular intentional choice in all of life is to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do, and when we are sensitive to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit’s leading, it is then we will have proper discernment, not judgment.

31.l. “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness”

Psalm 107:9 “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (, NKJV).

Isaiah 55:1-3   “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;

Jeremiah 31:14   my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 31:25   For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Matthew 5:6   “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Revelation 7:16-17  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Do you ever wonder why there are so many self-help, self-satisfaction, and finding self-purpose books being written, published, marketed, and being sold? There are tens of thousands out there. You would think if there are this many books out there someone would find the solution to these longings in our soul and that these longs are very real.

Billy Graham, said something like this; “There’s a place inside each individual, that if it is continually being filled will satisfy our inner soul. This is a reserved place for God and His Word in our lives. It is a place where true and lasting satisfaction, peace, joy, strength, and purpose find a residence in our hearts and minds. This is the place reserved for God alone in our lives. Many people try to fill this place with wealth, possessions, sex, drugs, alcohol or work, but do so in vain. They long to fill this place/void in their soul. It is the place where purpose, contentment, inner peace, happiness, fulfillment, joy, etc…. are only fully satisfied when we hunger, desire, thirst, and long for God. Only God can fill it and continually refresh it to overflowing abundance.

The problem is, the things of this world (wealth, possessions, sex, drugs, alcohol, or work) are fleeting, they’re broken, and they’ll eventually let you down. Money and possessions can be ripped away from you in a moment. Relationships falter. Drugs and alcohol wear off and leave you right back where you were, or worse.

God is the One who refreshes our soul and dwells in our innermost self, meeting those needs and desires that seem to be so elusive. We hunger for Him, and only He alone can satisfy. There is darkness and void in our soul when anything other than God is being put into it. There is light for the soul when this place is filled and continually refreshed by God.

When God is rejected, put aside, neglected, marginalized, or denied there is no light for our soul. Though He may quietly whisper; “come to Me and I will give you rest”, our ears deafen and our hearts harden to His repeated calls of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. It is in this rejection of His grace, mercy, and love when we turn to something else to fill the void of God in our lives. All the Holy Spirit-filled joy, peace, strength, hope, love, purpose, and true contentment we could have in our lives is discarded for worldly ideas of the same but which will never accomplish.

31.h. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3     Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

1 Kings 8: 37-39 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,  whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,  then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind)

Daniel 9:18-19   O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Philippians 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

The right kind of prayer does not use vain repetitions, which is any and all prayer which is mostly words and no meaning; all lips and no mind or heart.

One can pray long – but to the wrong god. In 1 Kings 18:26 the prophets of Baal cried out, “O Baal answer us” for half the day. In Acts 19:34 a mob in Ephesus shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” for two hours. The true God isn’t impressed by the length or eloquence of our prayers, but the heart. “Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. The eloquence of prayer consists in the fervency of desire, and the simplicity of faith.” (Clarke)

“Christians’ prayers are measured by weight, and not by length. Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.” (Spurgeon)

We don’t pray to tell God things that He didn’t know before we told Him. We pray to commune with and appeal to a loving God who wants us to bring every need and worry before His throne.

“Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to heaven, and to put him in mind that THERE is his Father, his country, and inheritance.” (Clarke)

Sometimes we pray as though we are informing God and think by giving Him this information will help Him make the right decision in favor of what we are praying about. God is never shocked by what is happening. He already knows. He also knows our hearts and thoughts. Nothing in the future is hidden from His sight today. He is God of all there is, all there will ever be, and He is full of grace, mercy, and love towards mankind.

Some may think wrongly about prayer and say why should I pray if God is in control and His will will be done. I should just accept my lot for the day and move on. The fact is prayer will take us before God. It will allow us to keep a firm hold of who God is. Our prayer is in communion with Him and holds together the foundations of our faith, reliance, trust, and hope that is in and through Jesus Christ. Our prayerful concerns communicated with steadfast faith in God are uplifting and strengthening to our souls. Our hope, trust, faith, and reliance are flames that burn away the doubts, worry, and confusion our human nature conjures up.

Prayer is not to inform God, but rather, to communicate with Him. It is in prayer where we find strength, courage, and hope as we trust, wait, and rely on God.

31.d. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

Matthes 2:6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

John 7:42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

God made elaborate preparations for the coming of Christ. For hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, the Old Testament prophets had prophesied the coming of the Messiah. They made dozens and dozens of prophecies about Jesus’s life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection, but many of their prophecies had to do with His birth. Seven hundred years before the event, God pinpointed the place on the map where the Messiah was going to be born. Micah 5:2 says, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” You cannot really appreciate this prophecy until you realize what a nothing town Bethlehem was. There was nothing spectacular about it at all. But God said that was where the Messiah would be born.

Fast-forward seven hundred years after that prophecy to the days of Mary and Joseph. Here was the problem: God had prophesied that the Messiah was going to be born in Bethlehem, but Mary and Joseph were eighty miles to the north in Nazareth. So how did God get this poor couple from Nazareth down to Bethlehem where they needed to be?

This is nothing short of amazing. Look at Luke 2:1: “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.” Half a continent away, at the center of power in the world, the Roman emperor was having a meeting with all of his counselors. The government was facing a crisis. Because of a lack of funds, they were facing a government shutdown, so the emperor and his counselors decided to raise taxes. In those days there were no computers to track people down and keep records of their income. So the government leaders had this idea to register everybody in the Roman Empire according to the city of their birth, which meant everyone had to pack a suitcase and travel to their hometown. Luke 2:3-4 says, “And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.”

Little did Cesar Augustus know that his command to be taxed would cause a couple named Mary and Joseph to travel to a village in Judea in order to give birth to the Savior of the world. Isn’t it beyond our comprehension how God works? God’s gift of Jesus Christ was preceded by elaborate preparation.

31.c. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Jesus understood we will have enemies, yet we are to respond to them in love, trusting that God will protect our cause in the best way possible. It is not in our human nature to have a positive “love” towards an enemy, who by word or actions, does us hurtful or harmful things.

“I believe that he says this: ‘This is the day of free grace; this is the time of mercy.’ The hour for judgment is not yet, when he will separate between the good and the bad; when he will mount the judgment seat and award different portions to the righteous and to the wicked.” (Spurgeon)

This is an example – that we also are to love our enemies and bless them if we can. In doing so, we show ourselves to be sons of our Father in heaven. “We are made sons by regeneration, through faith in the Son; but we are called to make our calling and election sure – to approve and vindicate our right to that sacred name. We can only do this by showing in word and act that the divine life and principles inspire, encourage, and empower us.” (Meyer)

Remember, Jesus here taught the character of the citizens of His kingdom. We should expect that character to be different from the character seen in the world. There are many good reasons why more should be expected from Christians than others: “They claim to have something that others do not have; they claim to be renewed, repentant, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. They do in fact have something that others do not have; they are in fact renewed, repentant, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. They have a power that others do not have; they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. They have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. They have a better future than others do.” (Guzik)

31.b. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God”

Matthew 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Proverbs 20:22    Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Proverbs 24:29    Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Romans 12:17-19   Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15    See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Peter 3:9   Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

If Matthew 5:38 were taken literally at all times, we would have to let everyone take advantage of us. Turning the other cheek would become an encouragement for evil. This isn’t what Jesus had in mind. His vivid examples illustrate His disciples’ need to give up any sense of entitlement to personal revenge, to be purged of the motivation of personal vengeance. By asking them to turn the other cheek, Jesus meant that His disciples should be motivated by love and a desire for the redemption and forgiveness of offenders—even when opposing their actions. What Jesus asks of His followers is not passivity, but surrender of the right to personal revenge. His three radical examples make His point about the attitude we should have toward those who wrong us. Rather than getting even, we should be willing to go to the opposite extreme. We need to be ready to humble ourselves for the kingdom of God. We need to understand that vengeance isn’t ours, but the Lord’s. Defending against physical harm and injury is very different from revenge and the emotional satisfaction of perceived justice at our own hands. An insulting slap, harsh verbal attack, or slanderous accusations can cause us to fall into acts of vengeance out of anger and hatred. We must fight this desire to make someone suffer for the hurt they have verbally done to us. This act of humbleness and humility will honor and glorify Jesus Christ. The world would say we are justified in retaliation. God’s Word says we are not – vengeance is His alone. Retaliation does not bring about peace. Vengeance does not show our love, trust, and reliance on Jesus Christ. Revenge is to deny forgiveness a place in our hearts.

Defending from personal physical harm, defending the weak, protecting the widow and orphan are right and just. Protecting and defending out of love and not retaliation and vengeance. When the act of physical harm is being done or about to be done is when our act of defense is activated. Many times it can be done by simply turning away and fleeing the situation. Other times it requires physical intervention to protect self or others. Letting someone do physical harm to us or others would become an encouragement for evil. Living at peace with all men does not mean we allow physical harm to us or others to go undefended.

Let the Holy Spirit lead your thoughts of discernment in peace so that in all things we think, say, and do Jesus Christ is honored and glorified.