Kindle Notes & Highlights
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February 26 - March 8, 2022
Twenty or thirty years after Jesus had gone back to heaven, a Jewish disciple named Matthew was inspired by the Spirit of God to write a book.
Nowhere in the four gospels do we find a single recorded word that Matthew spoke. Yet in his gospel, he gives us the words and works of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit used Matthew to accomplish three important tasks in the writing of his gospel. First, it was a bridge builder. If a Bible reader were to jump from Malachi to Mark, or to Acts, or to Romans, he would be bewildered. Matthew’s gospel is the bridge that leads us out of the Old Testament and into the New Testament. Second, this book introduced a new King. Each of the four gospels has its own emphasis; Matthew’s book is called “the
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Finally, the gospel introduced a new people. This new people, of course, was the church. Matthew was the only gospel writer to use the word church (Matt. 16:18; 18:17). The Greek word translated
church means “a called-out assembly.” In the New Testament, this refers to a local assembly of believers. Matthew made it clear that this new people, the church, must not maintain a racial or social exclusiveness. Faith in Jesus Christ makes believers “all one” in the body of Christ, the church.
I have always felt that Matthew 5:20 was the key to this important sermon: “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.” The main theme is true righteousness.
He dealt with the attitudes and intents of the heart and not simply with the external action.
34).
Should read 31).
If we remember these characteristics, we will better know how to build a happy and enduring marriage.
