Like the errant newspapers of today, the religious leaders in Israel had misinterpreted the facts about the true meaning of the Law and had disseminated their misinformation among their fellow Jews for centuries. Jesus gives the correct interpretation of the law.

Note: The last half of the sermon is missing, but the instructive notes for Reconciliation are below:

The appeal for corrective action: [Verse 23-24]

1. If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you:
2. Leave your gift there in front of the altar
3. First, go and be reconciled to your brother
4. Then come and offer your gift

How important is it to reconcile broken relationships? So important that it takes priority over everything else – including worship!!

1. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court
2. Do it while you are still with him on the way

On the way to where? To civil court – the place that Paul exhorts believers in conflict to avoid at all costs since it represents an utter failure on the part of Christ-following believers (1 Cor 6:1-6).

1. The rationale: [Verse 25-26]
2. Reconciliation is preferable to imprisonment
3. Or he may hand you over to the judge
4. The judge may hand you over to the officer
5. You may be thrown into prison
6. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny

Penny = Kodrantes = “One tenth of a denarius (a day’s pay)

It was the smallest Roman coin in use among the Jews at that time.

Biblical process of reconciliation: Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15-17

1. 1. Be willing to see your own fault/sin and confess it
2. Be eager to repent of your sin
3. Be ready to ask for forgiveness for your sin
4. 4. Be prepared to make restitution when appropriate

May God bless you through this message!

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Introduction

Matthew skips some of the earliest events as recorded in John's Gospel: the wedding at Cana, the first cleansing of the temple, the encounter with Nicodemus, the visit to Samaria and reveals to us a most remarkable event – the temptation of the Messiah!

Why is this event so important?

1. It represented a supernatural showdown between Satan and the Son of God
2. It reversed the failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Where the first Adam failed, the Second Adam triumphed!
3. It demonstrated Jesus’ holy, sinless and perfect role as the atoning Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world
4. It enabled Jesus to identify with mankind and become a sympathetic High Priest
5. It offers believers a biblical pattern for overcoming temptation

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Matthew skips some of the earliest events as recorded in John's Gospel: the wedding at Cana, the first cleansing of the temple, the encounter with Nicodemus, the visit to Samaria and reveals to us a most remarkable event – the temptation of the Messiah!

Why is this event so important?

1. It represented a supernatural showdown between Satan and the Son of God
2. It reversed the failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Where the first Adam failed, the Second Adam triumphed!
3. It demonstrated Jesus’ holy, sinless and perfect role as the atoning Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world
4. It enabled Jesus to identify with mankind and become a sympathetic High Priest
5. It offers believers a biblical pattern for overcoming temptation

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

When you consider the job description of mothering, it is truly astonishing:

A mother is the family chauffeur, gardener, family counselor, teacher, pediatrician, entertainer, maintenance worker, cleaning woman, housekeeper, cook, errand runner, bookkeeper/budget manager, interior decorator, caterer, dietitian, secretary, public relations person, and hostess.

Being a mother is definitely challenging. In fact, at times, it can be overwhelming. Here are some challenges that mothers face:

1) Low self-esteem

2) Monotony and loneliness

3) Stress from too many demands

4) Lack of time with her husband

5) Confusion about child discipline

6) Maintaining a peaceful home atmosphere

7) Need for outside role models

8) The daily challenging of training up children

(From And Then I Had Children, Susan A. Yates)

In light of these challenges, what does a mother really need? What does you mother really need? Obviously, she your needs your respect, your love and your appreciation. But there is something a mother needs even more than these. Since God created women and motherhood, let’s turn to Ephesians 5 and find out what God says mothers need most. (2001)

May God bless you through this message!

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

In Matthew chapters 1 and 2 we were introduced to Promised Messiah:

1. His genealogy: Being of the ancestry and lineage of King David
2. His virgin birth: Conceived of the Holy Spirit
3. His visiting guests: The Wise Men, AKA King-Makers, of Persia
4. His miraculous deliverance from King Herod

Only Luke’s gospel records any events of Jesus’ childhood:

1. He astonished the spiritual leaders of Israel with the depth of his spiritual understanding and insight (Luke 2:41-48).
2. He had an awareness of God’s calling on his life (Luke 2:49)
3. He was obedient to his parents (Luke 2:51)
4. He grew: (Luke 2:52)
5. In wisdom and stature
6. In favor with God and men

Unlike Luke’s account, Matthew skips directly ahead 28 years to the start of Jesus’ ministry.

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

In Matthew chapters 1 and 2 we were introduced to Promised Messiah:

1. His genealogy: Being of the ancestry and lineage of King David
2. His virgin birth: Conceived of the Holy Spirit
3. His visiting guests: The Wise Men, AKA King-Makers, of Persia
4. His miraculous deliverance from King Herod

Only Luke’s gospel records any events of Jesus’ childhood:

1. He astonished the spiritual leaders of Israel with the depth of his spiritual understanding and insight (Luke 2:41-48).
2. He had an awareness of God’s calling on his life (Luke 2:49)
3. He was obedient to his parents (Luke 2:51)
4. He grew: (Luke 2:52)
5. In wisdom and stature
6. In favor with God and men

Unlike Luke’s account, Matthew skips directly ahead 28 years to the start of Jesus’ ministry.

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

----more----

We are faced with a choice when it comes to the Messiah:

1. We can be like Herod, who responded with fear, jealousy and hostility
2. We can be like the religious leaders who responded with indifference
3. We can be like the Wise Men who responded with submission, worship and joy!

Isa 55:6-7 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

As stated on a popular bumper sticker: "Wise men still seek Him" (2011)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

We are faced with a choice when it comes to the Messiah:

1. We can be like Herod, who responded with fear, jealousy and hostility
2. We can be like the religious leaders who responded with indifference
3. We can be like the Wise Men who responded with submission, worship and joy!

Isa 55:6-7 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

As stated on a popular bumper sticker: "Wise men still seek Him" (2011)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com