Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:48 "You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

This can be a tough one, it causes some to give up because they know they can't be perfect. BrooksB's words below shed light on it a little better. Jehovah and Jesus don't expect us to be perfect, but they do want us to be complete in our faith.

BrooksB said:
Matt 5:48 where "perfect" is alternatively used as "complete". This is the scripture that says we must be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect)
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Matthew 6:1-4 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in front of men to be noticed by them; otherwise you will have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. So when you make gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gifts of mercy may be in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you."

My dad used to say that the best form of giving is anonymously. He also said "two wrongs don't make a right," and "treat others how you want to be treated." Not too bad for an alcoholic who didn't go to church!
 
Serenity said:
It doesn't seem that the same treatment was given to men however. 🤔
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I've never been able to find in the scriptures where the man who had been involved with the woman being stoned to death for getting caught in the act of adultery was himself up for getting stoned, as well.

The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” —John 8:3-5 Berean Standard Version

Easy enough to verify:

If a man is found lying with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. —Deuteronomy 22:22 Berean Standard Version

Just saying... where's the man who was caught in the act of adultery with her?

—Timothy,
a believer.
 
a believer said:
I've never been able to find in the scriptures where the man who had been involved with the woman being stoned to death for getting caught in the act of adultery was himself up for getting stoned, as well.

The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” —John 8:3-5 Berean Standard Version

Easy enough to verify:

If a man is found lying with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. —Deuteronomy 22:22 Berean Standard Version

Just saying... where's the man who was caught in the act of adultery with her?

—Timothy,
a believer.
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It surely appears that some of the Bible writings are biased. Also how would we explain King Solomon and King David having multiple wives I mean shouldn't these biblical principles apply to them as well.
 
a believer said:
I've never been able to find in the scriptures where the man who had been involved with the woman being stoned to death for getting caught in the act of adultery was himself up for getting stoned, as well.

The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” —John 8:3-5 Berean Standard Version

Easy enough to verify:

If a man is found lying with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. —Deuteronomy 22:22 Berean Standard Version

Just saying... where's the man who was caught in the act of adultery with her?

—Timothy,
a believer.
Click to expand...
This wasn't done in good faith. They wanted to trap Jesus. They wanted to put him in a difficult position where if he recommended to release the woman, they could accuse him of disregarding the Law of Moses, but if he recommended to stone her he would be breaking Roman law by which Jews weren't allowed to carry out executions. Their selective application of the law, where they didn't include the man just shows that they didn't care about true justice.
 
Matthew 6:5-8 "“Also, when you pray, do not act like the hypocrites, for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. When praying, do not say the same things over and over again as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you ask him."

I do not like praying in public. I'm a self conscious person, so when I'm in public, I do a quick prayer of thanks and then eat. This probably stems more from a fear of public speaking, and a desire to blend into my surroundings, but I've always felt uncomfortable when people drone on and on while praying. Maybe I'm wrong?
 
MODEL PRAYER

Matthew 9-15 “You must pray, then, this way:“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth. Give us today our bread for this day; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

This prayer sums things up pretty well... Jesus discusses the Kingdom, what will happen to Earth, the importance of charity & forgiveness, and it tells us to avoid Satan's temptations. I've tried to use this prayer, that most luke warm Christians know, to show my family the importance of knowing God's Name. Unfortunately, it hasn't stuck.
 
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Jesus mentions forgiveness a lot, because it's obviously central to his teachings. Grudges and resentment are anchors that hold us back from truly manifesting our full spiritual potential. It's not easy for some to forgive or apologize, but on the flip side it can be a negative if you use these provisions as an excuse to offend others. My youngest son is 20, and he's not as spiritually mature as his older brother. He's awake to the insanity of the world, but the world is still a thorn in his side. He's in an active battle between his flesh and his spirit like all of us, but his flesh is very strong. So, he loses his temper and says hurtful things from time to time. Then he apologizes, and truly means it. I keep telling him that his family will always love him, but he can't assume everyone will always be so forgiving. Jesus' admonition to Peter to never stop forgiving wasn't an open door to be a jerk!
 
Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, stop becoming sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so they may appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when fasting, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting to men but only to your Father who is in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you."

Not too many of us fast these days, this must have been an ancient Hebrew custom. I do plan a long water only fast when the GT starts and things shut down.
 
Matthew 6:19-21 “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I've been a prepper ever since I realized this system was going down back in 2008... even before I knew about Jehovah's Kingdom. As I said earlier in this thread, I'm not attached to my possessions, but I really hope they go to Jehovah's people!!!
 
Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!"

You can tell a lot when you look people in the eye. That's why the elites often order their minions to inform staff not to do so. There's an unconscious recognition of a person's intentions, as your spirit reads theirs. "Bright eyes" signal that the person is more under the influence of the spirit, while "dead eyes" say the opposite. Just know this, if you see someone with extremely dilated pupils, know that they're under the influence of their flesh, and very open to demonic possession.
 
Matthew 6:24 “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches."

Great advice! It's OK to make money, we just can't allow it to come first in our life.
 
Matthew 6:25-34 “On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? Also, why are you anxious about clothing? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin; but I tell you that not even Solʹo·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. Now if this is how God clothes the vegetation of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’ For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles."

I suffered with anxiety/depression most of my adult life. I won't rehash the details, but I will say it's not easy to just read these verses and then wake up free from their grip on your mind. You can be a very spiritual and faithful person and still have anxiety/depression. That said, Jehovah does give us a hand as long as we're willing to make the effort. I've reached a place where I have much less anxiety/depression. I'm under no delusion that Satan won't pull on my anxiety/depression triggers now until the end though, but these verses remind me that Jehovah is always right there to help when asked.
 
Matthew 7:1-5 “Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you. Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye but do not notice the rafter in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ when look! a rafter is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the straw from your brother’s eye."

The last thing I ever want to be called by Jehovah or Jesus is a hypocrite! My flesh is very judgmental. I'm not blaming others, but I learned it from my grandmother and best childhood friend. She would watch TV and say, "That's an ugly baby!" or "That woman is fat!" It was hilarious at the time, but not helpful in the long run. Jesus told us not to lust, which stems from judging another person attractive... but you can appreciate beauty. When I see a beautiful woman, I tell myself not to lust and I avert my eyes if my mind starts down that path. The same can be said for encountering someone who is the opposite. I tell myself not to judge, and then I wonder what beauty they possess in other ways. This has helped me a lot.
 
Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs nor throw your pearls before swine, so that they may never trample them under their feet and turn around and rip you open."

I'd say this means don't waste time trying to convert the goats at the expense of ignoring the sheep. That doesn't mean you can't try, just be aware when it becomes obvious they've choose Satan.
 
Matthew 7:7-11 “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him!"

Jehovah will NEVER let us down as long as we remain faithful. He may not give us what we want, but He will give us what we need. Sometimes we confuse wants with needs, but Jehovah knows the difference.
 
Matthew 7:12 “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them. This, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean."

My dad used to say, "Treat others how you want to be treated." Very valuable advice! It kind of goes along with love you neighbor as you love Jehovah.
 
Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are finding it."

I use these verses a lot to show my family that most people aren't going to make it. You can't rely on John 3:16 Following Jehovah & Jesus means hardship at some point... even if you're wealthy, it will come to your doorstep.
 
Matthew 7:15-20 “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men."

Is Robert a false prophet? Some have come to this forum and claimed that he is. Well... look at his fruit, not his imperfections. His selfless YEARS of work has opened many eyes to the MOL's lies. He could have started baptizing us and leading a break-off WT sect, but he hasn't. He's also never claimed that Jehovah told him to do something. Feeling inspired to do something, is much different than saying you were told by God to do something.
 
Matthew 7:21-24 “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’"

My son and I talk about what constitutes a major sin, and what are the minor sins we can't help but committ. I think about these verses a lot when we have this conversation, and how I do NOT want to be thrown outside of the wedding feast. Therefore I assume nothing! There's no "once saved, always saved" belief in my heart. I'm working under the assumption that I've been given one last shot at making it, leaving no room for major, conscious sins!
 
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore, everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them will be like a discreet man who built his house on the rock. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded on the rock. Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house, and it caved in, and its collapse was great.”

What a powerful way to end a sermon! Jesus is awesome!
 
Carl said:
Matthew 7:15-20 “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men."

Is Robert a false prophet? Some have come to this forum and claimed that he is. Well... look at his fruit, not his imperfections. His selfless YEARS of work has opened many eyes to the MOL's lies. He could have started baptizing us and leading a break-off WT sect, but he hasn't. He's also never claimed that Jehovah told him to do something. Feeling inspired to do something, is much different than saying you were told by God to do something.
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When one checks Robert's insights with the scriptures it becomes clear to me and Susan B and a host of others here on this forum and who participate on Robert's main site at e-watchman that what he writes harmonizes with God's thoughts. Where he is wrong and all of us wrong as well, we will be disciplined and corrected by Jesus and Jehovah in due course. So as for me and my household, we gladly discern Robert to NOT be a false prophet, not even close. As a matter of fact, I thank Jehovah daily and often multiple times per day for the insights Jehovah has bestowed upon Robert and in turn all of us. I ask Him for his holy spirit to continue aiding Robert and all of us continually.
 
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