A newspaper is a daily miracle! But they are far from perfect! Mistakes are made! When mistakes occur, editors have a section of the paper called “Corrections and Clarifications” where they amend these mistakes.

Like the errant newspapers of today, the religious leaders in Israel had not only made mistakes – they had intentionally misinterpreted the facts about the true meaning of the Law in order to justify themselves before God.

In response, Jesus confronts their false religious system by bringing “Correction and Clarification” to the true intent of the Old Testament Law, which accomplishes several things:

1. It affirms God’s holy and perfect standard of righteousness based on the Law!
2. It confronts us with our inability and utter failure to keep the Law!
3. It leads us to receive the finished work of Christ as the only means of righteousness!
4. It provides insight into the life of a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered, Spirit-led believer!

(2011)

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Like the errant newspapers of today, the religious leaders in Israel had misinterpreted the facts about the true meaning of the Law and had disseminated their misinformation among their fellow Jews for centuries. Jesus gives the correct interpretation of the law.

Note: The last half of the sermon is missing, but the instructive notes for Reconciliation are below:

The appeal for corrective action: [Verse 23-24]

1. If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you:
2. Leave your gift there in front of the altar
3. First, go and be reconciled to your brother
4. Then come and offer your gift

How important is it to reconcile broken relationships? So important that it takes priority over everything else – including worship!!

1. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court
2. Do it while you are still with him on the way

On the way to where? To civil court – the place that Paul exhorts believers in conflict to avoid at all costs since it represents an utter failure on the part of Christ-following believers (1 Cor 6:1-6).

1. The rationale: [Verse 25-26]
2. Reconciliation is preferable to imprisonment
3. Or he may hand you over to the judge
4. The judge may hand you over to the officer
5. You may be thrown into prison
6. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny

Penny = Kodrantes = “One tenth of a denarius (a day’s pay)

It was the smallest Roman coin in use among the Jews at that time.

Biblical process of reconciliation: Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15-17

1. 1. Be willing to see your own fault/sin and confess it
2. Be eager to repent of your sin
3. Be ready to ask for forgiveness for your sin
4. 4. Be prepared to make restitution when appropriate

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Introduction

Matthew skips some of the earliest events as recorded in John's Gospel: the wedding at Cana, the first cleansing of the temple, the encounter with Nicodemus, the visit to Samaria and reveals to us a most remarkable event – the temptation of the Messiah!

Why is this event so important?

1. It represented a supernatural showdown between Satan and the Son of God
2. It reversed the failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Where the first Adam failed, the Second Adam triumphed!
3. It demonstrated Jesus’ holy, sinless and perfect role as the atoning Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world
4. It enabled Jesus to identify with mankind and become a sympathetic High Priest
5. It offers believers a biblical pattern for overcoming temptation

May God bless you through this message!

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The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com