Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples if their “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus then shared about “murder, adultery and swearing”, and He told His disciples, “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. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.” Jesus went on to say, “You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your 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”, and in chapter five and verse forty-five of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples how the, “sun shines on the evil and on the good” where we read:
That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
The verse reads, “That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” Matthew began with the words, “that you may be” which means “so the disciples might be” “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of your Father” or “belonging to the generator and ancestor” “which is in heaven” which means “who dwells, resides and inhabits the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. Jesus declared people as “God's children” who would “love their enemies, bless them that curse” and “do good to them that hate”, “and pray for them which despitefully use” “and persecute” them.
The verse goes on to say, “ for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew continues with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “he makes his sun“ or “God causes and springs up the sun in the sky” “to rise” which means “to arise and ascend” “on the evil” or “upon those who are full of labors, annoyances, hardships, bad and wicked” “and on the good” which means “and upon those who are of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, upright and honorable”, “and sends rain” which means “causes moisture, wet, showers and washings” “on the just” or “on the people who are righteous, observing divine laws, virtuous and keeping the commands of God” “and the unjust” which refers to “and the people who are not righteous, observing divine laws, virtuous and keeping the commands of God”. Jesus told His disciples that God makes the “sun shine” and the “rain fall” upon people who do “righteous deeds” and those who do not.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we immediately recognize the “amazing grace” of God Almighty. Though people perform “good or evil”, He is faithful to make the “sun shine” and the “rain fall” upon them. This demonstrates His willingness to “save” every person who will yield their lives to Him as “Savior and Lord”, and every time the sun comes up and the rain falls down people who are both “good and evil” should acknowledge the merciful all-loving God who came to “save” them.
Next time Jesus tells the disciples what happens, “if you love them which love you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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