January 17, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Love Your Enemies 

Jesus’s Words:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:43-44

We are the children of our Father and must strive to be like Him. It’s easy to love those who love you, but it is more courageous and rewarding to love your enemies. This command can be tough, especially when you’ve been mistreated, and all you want to do is lash out or treat them the way they treated you. Not only are we to love them, but we are also to pray for them. If you must look at it in a way that makes you feel like you’re getting back at them, think of it this way: with every prayer or piece of help you give them, it’s like putting hot coals on their head. 

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Proverbs 25:21-22

We must be kind, even to our enemies. The reward will be beyond measure, and they will be held accountable for any damage they’ve caused us. God sees and knows all the trouble we faced and will recompense the wickedness we’ve had to deal with. 

January 16, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Oaths

Jesus’s Words:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Matthew 5:34-35

Jesus is talking about oaths, not foul language, in this passage. You should refrain from using foul language, but in this case, it means to swear to God or the earth, or even your head. Jesus is expanding on the third commandment:

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2

Don't do it, just don't do it! We are very weak people, and something new comes along that sends us down a different path, maybe one we like better, and that's it; we break our oath. You've heard it said, "I swear to God this is true." I immediately think they are lying, and now they have broken a commandment and will suffer the consequences of their action. God takes oaths seriously, so if you decide to make one with Him, you had better be ready to keep it.  

January 15, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Divorce

Red Letters - Jesus’s Words

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

I looked up other verses and dug into the Greek wording and definitions because this is one of those hard-to-swallow passages for many. Especially with these verses and others in Matthew 19, I believe he was showing us how hard it is to keep the commandments. We can do our best, but it’s impossible. Infidelity is probably the least of our worries about a bad marriage; physical and mental abuse are as much, if not more, reason to walk away from a marriage. I would rather subject my body to the sin of adultery than stay married to an adulterer or abuser. I know that many people put up with such nonsense, and my heart goes out to them, though I know that Jesus comforts them as they live their lives that way, but because of his sacrifice, we don’t have to. He’s telling those listening to his sermon that if they want to get into heaven without him, which he knows is impossible, they would have to live a life entirely without sin. This information does not give you a license to go out and divorce your spouse, but it does provide some comfort for those who already have, or are living in an adulterous or abusive marriage, and are trying to hang on for dear life because of these words. Remember, Jesus is so forgiving and will mark your trespasses as “not guilty” when you stand before him in judgment.

January 14, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Lust

The way Jesus exposes the scripture is far beyond what I’ve learned from teachers in the past. Though I’ve read it many times, I’ve never linked his sermon to the commandments. The portion of Jesus’s sermon about lust directly correlates with the seventh commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery. He makes it very clear that lusting after someone who’s not yours corrupts the mind. But, here is the kicker, you will pay for the lust of your mind with your body. He says it is better to cut off the part of your body that sins rather than send your whole body to hell. If you don’t understand what that means, it means that just desiring someone other than your spouse is the sin of adultery. The enemy has definitely seared our minds when it comes to the adultery commandment by making us believe that it’s okay to look upon another’s body and desire it as long as we don’t act upon it. He takes it a step further, making it even harder to obey. Control your emotions! Satan knows how to entice people into hell by flaunting gorgeous people on television and in the movies. Don’t fall for his cunning schemes. Focus on Jesus, and those desires will likely disappear. 

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

January 13, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Anger

Did you know that Jesus associates unjust anger with the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill? Being mad at someone for a mistake or something unintentional crosses that line and deserves the same punishment as a murderer. Here are his words:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22

Jesus doesn’t even want to hear from you until you’ve made amends. The term brother could mean anyone, especially someone inferior, such as a child or an employee. This portion of scripture, Jesus’s words, reminds us that we should control our reactions and not venture into spiritual killing in our hearts with our words. Demeaning someone because they aren’t on point or cross into “your lane” by mistake doesn’t deserve your anger; Jesus is very clear about that. I know many Christ-followers who need to listen to this teaching and take it to heart. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and Jesus used it on occasion, but he knew where the line was drawn. We aren’t as righteous as he was, so proceed carefully if you intend to use that as an excuse for bad behavior. Control your reactions, because the punishment of anger could be the same as murder.

January 12, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Fulfilling The Law

Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law of Moses. He was the perfect example; he showed us the way it was supposed to be done. Not only did he say he came to fulfill the law, but he said that until heaven and earth pass away, the law is still in place. He also says that anyone who breaks one of them or teaches people that it’s okay to break them will be least in the kingdom of heaven. Are we to ignore what Jesus said and listen to those who tell us we don’t have to keep the law? Read it for yourself. I copied and pasted the words of the King James Version of the Bible, and these are printed in red, indicating that they are Jesus’s words.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them,the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19

Though he fulfilled the law, heaven and earth haven’t passed away; we’re still residing here. What am I missing? Not only did he teach us to follow the law, but he made it clear and even stricter. I’m a rule follower, and I know I’ve broken some of them. Knowing the truth of the scripture, I feel even more grateful than ever that he covers my sins and washes them away. Do your best to walk in a manner worthy of our Savior and give the world a good example of a follower of Christ. 

January 11, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Salt And Light

Even though it has been demonized over the years, salt is an essential nutrient that we cannot live without. That’s great for me because I love it and can hardly eat anything that doesn’t contain a little bit of it; even dessert is better with a pinch; somehow it makes the sweetness even sweeter; this doesn’t mean you should have a salty attitude; by no means! We can all be a little salty at times, but don’t let that be your everyday disposition; the world should see us as dessert and not unsavory salt that has lost its taste and is suitable for nothing. 

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13

Then Jesus compares us to a light on a hill that cannot be hid. If you’ve ever seen a city or homes situated on the side of a mountain, you’ll understand why he used that terminology. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

Even a small glimmer of light can be seen from far away. Your words may not necessarily point out that you belong to Jesus, even though they can. Your actions and disposition toward others will tell your story. That’s why you must control your actions, even to your spouse; you don’t want them to worry about your salvation. Get ahold of your reactions so the world sees you as salt and light and not someone condemned. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16