The Sermon on the Mount Part 2

Matthew, Chapters 5-7 are known as the "Sermon on the Mount". Matthew 5 was discussed in the previous post.

In Matthew 6 and 7, JESUS continues HIS outline of the practice of true Christianity. Here is an expanded translation of these verses in modern English.

In reading Matthew 5-7, one can get a quick overview of the meaning of the New Testament that can be shared with others to show that their understanding of Christianity may be based on extra-biblical doctrines promoted by church denominations, as opposed to what the BIBLE actually says. 

Mat 6
1-4	Charity. If you publicize your charity and good works to get praise from other people, you lose your reward from GOD.
6-15	Praying in secret on your own is real – as opposed to just praying with a church group because it is expected of you. Repetitive prayers, as in Catholicism, are related to paganism. The Lord’s Prayer. JESUS taught us the elements of talking to GOD in outline form. It is not necessarily to be repeated verbatim as ritual – many people know the words but have never considered what they mean.
16-18	Fasting. It is a desire for respect from others (your self-righteousness) to let people know that you are fasting. If you do it in secret, between you and GOD, it is a righteous sacrifice – bearing your cross.
19-24	Warning against placing your faith in materialism. If you are dedicated to some aspect of sinfulness – it stains your soul, in its entirety. You can’t serve GOD and be dedicated to the acquisition of money at the same time – it is one or the other. (American culture is definitely all about the love of money.)
25-34	Believers, don’t worry about what is going to happen in the near future – trust GOD for the things you need – it is part of the covenant, the New Testament contract, that GOD will look out for you if you obey.
Mat 7
1-6	Don’t hypocritically judge others; it is a way to damnation. It is spiritually dangerous and often unprofitable to try to force the WORD on groups of worldly people who hate righteousness.
7-11	Sincerely ask GOD for spiritual understanding and it will be given to you.
12-14	The golden rule – the greatest commandment – treat others the way you expect to be treated. Narrow is the way – you have to obey exactly – partial obedience is the broad way (road) to hell. King Saul was the famous Old testament case of partial obedience based on following his own will. He was rejected by GOD and a new king, David, was put in his place.
15-20	The characteristics (the fruit) of false christians and christian leaders - if these church leaders aren’t producing Christlikeness in their followers and in their own lives (maintaining a generally spotless reputation) – they are probably false Christians - wolves.
21-23	Great White Throne Judgement. Even christians, if they do not obey (follow the narrow way), will be cast into hell. This is what the BIBLE says - as opposed to the modern church teaching of “Once Saved Always Saved”.
24-27	Build your christian walk on the rock (the WORDs of JESUS). People are often symbolized in the BIBLE as the sands of the sea.   If you build your version of Christianity on man’s doctrine – a foundation of sand - your house (your spiritual life and ultimate salvation) will be washed away / destroyed in the time of tribulation (the storm).
28-29	The people who heard JESUS spiritually recognized that HE was authoritative (speaking as GOD) in giving the outline of the New Testament.