Page 117 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

The Sermon on the Mount and the Kingdom

Relating to One’s Enemies (5:43–48)
Human reasoning teaches us that we should love our neighbor and
hate our enemies (v. 43). However, in Christ’s kingdom we are to respond
to our enemies in a completely different way. We are to respond as Jesus
responded. Even as He hung on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Now He
commands us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
(Matthew 5:44). In doing this, we will become children of our Father in
heaven who “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (v. 45).

Living Generously (6:1–4)
True citizens of Christ’s kingdom are to be generous people, and they
are to give to others out of sincere and humble hearts. They should not
give just to receive personal blessing from God. Neither should they give
to receive praise from people. Jesus warns, “Be careful not to do your
‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1).
Those who give in such a way will lose their heavenly reward.

Jesus tells us how He wants us to give: “So when you give to the
needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men” (v. 2). Our
giving must be done in secret. Then our heavenly Father will reward us
openly (vv. 3–4).

Praying Sincerely (6:5–15)

Prayer is an important part of Kingdom life. In His sermon, Jesus
tells us how we are to pray. Like our giving,
our praying is not be done for outward show.
Otherwise, we will be like the hypocrites
who seek the praises of men (v. 5). On the Prayer is an
contrary, we are to pray to God in secret. If important part
we will do this, “Then your Father, who sees
what is done in secret, will reward you” (v. 6). of kingdom life.
We are not to babble like pagans, repeating
phrases over and over. We are to simply ask
of the Father in faith, for, Jesus explains, He “knows what you need before
you ask him” (v. 8).

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