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

This corresponds to what we saw earlier, about anger. Sin begins in the heart. We can’t entertain evil thoughts and then pretend that we’re good people because we never acted on those thoughts. The desires themselves are wrong.

Since we’ve already gone over this in detail, I’m not going to repeat it all here. The rule here is pretty simple: if the action itself is wrong, then the desire to perform that action is also wrong. Even if you never carry that desire out, the desire itself is still a sin. In God’s sight lust is morally equivalent to adultery. (No, that does NOT mean that if you lust after someone you might as well go ahead and commit adultery with them. That just adds sin on top of sin.)

I do want to say one thing. There are many people who use this verse to justify divorce, saying “So-and-so might not have committed adultery, but there was lust present, and that’s the same thing.” Keep in mind that in the previous verse, Jesus said that anger was morally equivalent to murder. Therefore, if you want to argue that lust is grounds for divorce, you must also accept that anger is grounds for being executed. Are you willing to be put to death the next time you are angry for an ungodly reason? Then no, you cannot divorce someone for lust.

Is lust wrong? Absolutely. But it is actual physical adultery – not lust – that is grounds for divorce.

How He Became King: After he assassinated Pekahiah
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 20 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Oded
Death: Assassinated by Hoshea
Burial: Unknown

Pekah seized power over Israel by assassinating Pekahiah. He ruled for 20 years, and did evil:

2 Kings 15:27: “In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”

Pekah attacked Jerusalem but he was unable to conquer it:

2 Kings 16:5: “Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.”

However, Pekah did achieve military victory against Ahaz (the king of Judah). The Lord granted Pekah victory because of the disobedience of Ahaz (who served Baal and offered his own children as human sacrifices):

2 Chronicles 28:5: “Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.”

The Israelites then carried away 200,000 people captive. However, the prophet Oded rebuked them:

2 Chronicles 28:8: “And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?
11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

The nation obeyed the Lord. They clothed the captives and returned them:

2 Chronicles 28:15: “And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.”

During Pekah’s reign, large portions of the country were carried away captive by the Assyrians:

2 Kings 15:29: “In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.”

After this, Pekah was assassinated by Hoshea:

2 Kings 15:30: “And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.”

Once the king was dead, Hoshea ruled over Israel.

Matthew 5:23: “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

It is a foolish thing to try to draw close to God while you hurt those around you. The book of I John said it very plainly: you cannot love God while you hate your brother. If you love God then you will love the brethren; if you do not love them then you do not love God either. The two go together.

Now, there are times when anger is appropriate. In the Bible there were numerous occasions where God was angry. There will also be times when people take steps that sever our relationship with them. It will not be possible to be on good terms with everyone all the time.

But what this is saying is that if we’ve done something bad to those around us – if we’ve done something wrong, or have hurt others, or have been evil – then we need to make it right. We can’t be an evil, hateful person and expect our relationship with God to be fine. We have to make it right. In fact, God is not going to accept your gifts until you’ve made it right. Your wicked treatment of those around you has a big impact on your relationship with God.

There may be a time when it is impossible to make it right – for example, the person you have wronged might be dead. You obviously cannot mend a relationship with a dead person. However, we do have a responsibility for seeking forgiveness whenever it is possible. God cares about the way we treat other people in our life, and if you have acted cruelly to those around you then He is not going to turn a blind eye to that.

Here is today’s lesson, which I have uploaded to this blog as a PDF:

Hell Is A Real Place of Fiery Torment

Matthew 5:21: “Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 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.”

Notice the all-important phrase “without a cause”! Even Christ was angry from time to time. It is one thing to be angry at someone who has done something truly terrible. God was angry at Pharaoh for not letting the Israelites go, and He was also very angry with the Pharisees for their hypocritical lives. Jesus was angry with the moneychangers in the Temple. Paul was angry at false teachers who were leading people to Hell. All of this anger was appropriate and right.

However, there are some people who are hateful and cruel ‘just because’. Cain hated Abel, even though Abel had done him no harm. What Jesus is emphasizing is that this sort of internal anger and hate – even if we never act on it – is sinful in and of itself.

The sin does not begin when the person is murdered; instead it begins in the heart. We must be aware that our angers, hatreds, lusts, and envyings are sin, even if we never act on them. Sin begins in the heart. If the action itself is wrong, then the desire to perform that action is also wrong.

How He Became King: After his father Menahem died
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 2 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Uncertain
Death: Assassinated by Pekah
Burial: Unknown

Pekahiah ruled over Israel for two years, and did evil in the eyes of the Lord:

2 Kings 15:23: “In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”

His reign was cut short when Pekah, one of his captains, assassinated him:

2 Kings 15:25: “But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.”

After the king was dead, Pekah seized the throne and reigned over Israel.

Matthew 5:20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

This verse is critically important. You see, the Pharisees were self-righteous; they believed that since they were children of Abraham, and since they led such good lives, they deserved entrance into Heaven. They had outward obedience but inward corruption. They looked good but were desperately evil, and the Lord condemned them.

Jesus is telling us that no amount of self-righteousness will do us any good. You may think you are leading the most upright and amazing life, but in God’s sight your righteousness is utterly depraved and worthless. You simply cannot be good enough to merit salvation. No amount of works on your part will ever do the least bit of good or earn you the smallest amount of holiness.

What God wants is not self-righteous boasting, but a repentant heart. Those who cry out to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness will be given righteousness. That is the only righteousness that will ever be good enough, because God rejects all those who try to come to God in their own good deeds. Righteousness is a free gift from God; it cannot be earned. If you have not come to Jesus for righteousness then you do not have righteousness at all.

Here is today’s lesson, which I have uploaded to this blog as a PDF:

There Will Be A Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Matthew 5:19: “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.”

People say “Oh, there are no ranks in Heaven. There are no big I’s or little U’s. We are all the same.” But we are not all the same. It really does matter how you live your life. You see, God cares about our faithfulness. Notice that God does not say “Oh, it doesn’t matter if you follow me or not. Just do your thing. It will all be fine in the end.” Not at all! Instead we see God saying that those who are obedient and who teach others to be obedient will be called great in Heaven, while those who are disobedient and who teach others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom.

What is it that determines one’s status – least vs greatest? Two things: your obedience and your testimony. Were you obedient, and did your example teach others to be obedient as well? Or were you disobedient and, by example or word, encouraged others to do the same? Did you draw people to God, or did you draw people away from Him? Did you further the gospel, or were you an obstacle to it?

You may think that God doesn’t care, but the truth is that He cares tremendously about how we live our lives. You will stand before Jesus and give an account of your life, and there will be consequences (or rewards) for your actions. If you have been living a careless life then now is the time to change – before it’s too late and your life comes to an end.

How He Became King: After he assassinated Shallum
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 10 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Uncertain
Death: Uncertain
Burial: Unknown

Menahem became king over Israel after he assassinated Shallum. He then reigned over Israel for 10 years, and did evil:

2 Kings 15:17: “In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”

Menahem was a brutal king. Since the area around Tirzah had not supported his assassination of Shallum, he murdered them all:

2 Kings 15:16: “Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.”

During his reign the king of Assyria came against him. Menahem taxed the wealthy in order to obtain 1,000 talents of silver, which he then gave to the Assyrians in order to get them to leave:

2 Kings 15:19: “And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.”

When Menahem died, Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

This is very similar to the salt discussion. As Christians we are called to be lights in the world – to proclaim the gospel, preach the truth, and bear the message of God to people who desperately need to hear it. We are the light of the world, and it is imperative that we shine as brightly and widely as possible.

Yet, instead of shining in the darkness, we are all too eager to blend into that darkness. The very last thing we want to do is stand out and attract attention. Since we don’t want to seem strange and we don’t want to be rejected, we start compromising the truth and pretend that we’re just like everyone else. We hide our light for fear of offending people with it. We hide the truth so that the darkness isn’t confronted by anything it doesn’t want to see.

But God commands us to lead bold lives – to let our light shine before men so that He can be glorified. We are to confront our culture, not blend in with it. We are to preach the truth, not hide it or distance ourselves from it.

Here is today’s lesson, which I have uploaded to this blog as a PDF:

The Millennium Is Not Symbolic

Matthew 5:13: “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.”

Salt (among other things) is a preservative; it keeps meat from going bad and enables it to be preserved. The thing about salt, though, is its saltiness. It has a certain distinctiveness about it. There is nothing bland about salt; it really stands out – especially in concentrated amounts.

Like salt, Christians are supposed to be distinctive and different. It is their job to keep society from going bad. That involves preaching the Gospel, resisting evil, pursuing holiness, and fighting for what is right.

However, if Christians blend into the world and side with their culture, and if they abandon what makes them distinctive, then they have lost their saltiness. Instead of combating the cultural decay they become a part of it. And so, as Jesus said, they become “good for nothing”.

This is a critical issue in our day because so many Christians desperately want the world to like them. They want others to speak well of them and not see them as some strange lunatics that believe odd things and behave in puritanical ways. In order to make the world like them they abandon their distinctiveness and try to blend in. But that is precisely what we must not do. Friendship with the world is enmity with God; if we are on the world’s good side then we’ve lost our saltiness and have become useless.

How He Became King: After he assassinated Zachariah
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 1 month
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Uncertain
Death: Assassinated by Menahem
Burial: Unknown

Shallum seized control over Israel by assassinating King Zachariah. Shallum then reigned for one month:

2 Kings 15:13: “Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.”

His brief reign over Israel ended when Menahem assassinated him:

2 Kings 15:14: “For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.”

Menahem then ruled over Israel.

Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Life generally seems to revolve around this choice, which we are all presented with in various degrees of severity. On the one hand we can take the road of sin – living for ourselves, going along with the culture, doing whatever we want, and enjoying evil. Many people do this and lead a fairly happy, peaceful life. In fact, some people become very wealthy doing this and get the best things that life has to offer. However, death always comes, and after death there is the certainty of hell. Those who make this choice end up tormented by fire for all of eternity. Therefore, a life of sin leads to a possibly of a comfortable, easy life now, followed by the certainty of endless pain and suffering.

On the other hand, we can serve God – repenting, denying ourselves, obeying God rather than our own desires, and sacrificing our dreams for His. That path often leads to a life of suffering. We are persecuted, we struggle against sin, we are despised, and things just go wrong. But then death comes and God brings us to Heaven. In the end we spend eternity in peace, happiness, and contentment.

Generally speaking, that is really the choice. You can choose the easy life now, but you will pay for it for all eternity. Or you can choose the painful life now, and have endless joy for the rest of time.

As Jesus said, those who are persecuted – those who suffer because of their faithfulness to Him, and who are despised and murdered for believing in Jesus – will be immensely rewarded in Heaven. As God said, “great is your reward in Heaven”. He speaks of a great reward! Remember, God is so wealthy that He paves His streets with gold. Can you imagine how significant a reward must be in order for God to call it “great”?

A life of service to God may mean a life of persecution and suffering, and perhaps even a painful death. However, it is followed by tremendous joy, blessing, and a fantastic reward. We may suffer now for our faithfulness, but Jesus tells us that in the end it is well worth the cost.