Radical Amputation and the Sin Nature of Man: Matthew 5:28-30 (Commentary)

          One of our elders preached an outstanding message called "Building Real Community"; to stream or download the free MP3 audio file from Sermon Audio, click here.

          He briefly touched on the passage in Matthew 5:28-30 where Jesus says "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out... And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off..." etc. There's a school of thought that places emphasis a literal outworking of this passage. If the literal interpretation is the emphasis, what if your heart causes you to sin? 

          With the exception of Adam and Jesus, also referred to as "...the last Adam..." in 1 Corinthians 15:45, and Enoch and Elijah, both of whom had sin but didn't die, sin is present in the heart of every man from conception to death (Romans 5:12; 1 John 1:8-10; Jeremiah 20:14-18). Jesus says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34-35). This isn't narrowly referring to the words of a man, but to an overarching principle that governs the reality of sin as it pertains to the thoughts and actions of a man as fruit of the sin that he already possesses; we act according to what is in our heart. If we are not redeemed and filling our hearts with God's word, meditating on Him, His commandments, His testimonies, His person, and His ways day and night, what fruit will we bear? If we don't fill the glass with the living water of God's word, what will fill the glass in its place? A glass is never empty; it's always filled with something. And since "a tree is known by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33), what will the fruit of our heart reveal about us?

          These are questions that God uses to check my heart. I pray that they are sharpening to you too. Lord bless you saints. Run the race to win it, press on, and press in! This is our glorious calling, our blessed duty, and our unmerited privilege.

Trust God

"Thus says the LORD:

         'Cursed is the man who trusts in
               man
          And makes flesh his strength,
          Whose heart departs from
               the LORD.
          For he shall be like a shrub in
               the desert,
          And shall not see when good
               comes,
          But shall inhabit the parched
               places in the wilderness,
          In a salt land which is not
               inhabited.

         'Blessed is the man who trusts
               in the LORD,
          And whose hope is the LORD.
          For he shall be like a tree
               planted by the waters,
          Which spreads out its roots by
               the river,
          And will not fear when heat
               comes;
          But its leaf will be green,
          And will not be anxious in the
               year of drought,
          Nor will cease from yielding
               fruit.'"

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NKJV)

Let Him Who Glories Glory in This...

"Thus says the LORD:

         'Let not the wise man

               glory in his wisdom,

          Let not the mighty man

               glory in his might,

          Nor let the rich man

               glory in his riches;

          But let him who glories glory

               in this,

          That he understands and knows,

               Me,

          That I am the LORD, exercising

               lovingkindness, judgement,

               and righteousness in the

               earth.

           For in these I delight,'

               says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)