Wednesday in the Word with Krisan Marotta

In giving us the Lord's prayer, Jesus is not giving us a ritual to perform or a spiritual discipline to ensure our prayers are answered. Jesus is challenging us to consider what is our hearts are set on. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew32/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Being religious is no guarantee that you are genuinely following God. Whatever you define as obedience to God (being in full-time ministry, church attendance, praying, fasting, giving to the poor, adopting social justice causes), Jesus says: stop and ask yourself who are you doing it for? Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew31/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In one sense, loving your neighbor is a simple, practical guide to good conduct. But it is also a truth we have to embrace and choose to follow. In that sense, it is a test of faith. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew30/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for applying instructions for the judges of Israel to their personal behavior. They claim they can be as proportionally vindictive to in the name of seeking retribution and still consider themselves blameless. Jesus says the guiding principle is not "an eye for an eye" but rather "turn the other cheek." Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew29/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Since we rarely make oaths today, there doesn’t seem to be much to learn from Matthew 5:33-37. However, Jesus is speaking to a deeper issue than telling the truth or meaning what we say. He's dealing with violating the 3rd commandment, taking the Lord's name in vain. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew28/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Both Moses and Jesus recognize that we sinners are going to fail in our marriages and so they allowed divorce with some regulations. Moses did not mean divorce was a righteous option. Divorce results from the fact that the parties involved are sinners. God intended marriage to be forever but divorce is a necessary evil because of our sin. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew27/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

The Pharisees consider themselves blameless before the law if they have refrained from physically committing adultery. But Jesus says righteousness requires more. It requires inward submission to the will of God and accepting the boundaries He has placed on your life, including your sexuality. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew26/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew25/ The Pharisees believe they are righteous because no court can convict them of murder. But Jesus warns that if courts were in charge of judging righteousness, then responding to others with unloving anger would get you arrested; and calling people insulting names would get you thrown into the fires of judgment. Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

In the second section of this sermon Jesus warns that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. Unlike them, we must have a genuine commitment to the Scriptures and what they teach if we want to find life in the kingdom of God. We must seek to understand the full demands of the Law and want to obey it. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew24/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

People marked by the being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, hungering for righteousness, pursuing peace and mercy, etc. will draw the hostility of the world, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the kingdom of God. We, his disciples, are not to shrink from following Jesus for fear that the world might hate us. We are to follow him, even though that invites mocking, scoffing and persecution. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew23/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Like the merciful, those commit the costly act of refusing to answer injury for injury and seeking a peaceful reconciliation instead will find their inheritance as children of God in the kingdom of heaven. When we realize how deeply we ourselves are indebted to God's grace and dependent on His mercy, we also realize we're in no position to condemn the sins of others. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew22/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

The pure in heart are not those who are morally perfect. Rather their hearts have been cleansed of rebellion and rejection of God. The pure in heart live like the gospel is true, though not perfectly. One day they will stand before God and be accepted. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew21/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

Only those will to commit the costly act of being merciful will receive mercy in the kingdom of God, because showing mercy is an implication of having saving faith. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew20/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta; Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

When you’re physically hungry, the desire to eat is so overwhelming you can hardly think about anything else. Jesus is counting on that experience in this beatitude. The truly fortunate ones long for that which is missing in this life, which only the kingdom of God can fulfill: holiness. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew19/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com

While Matthew 5:5 is probably the most famous beatitude, not many people understand what it means. Jesus does not explain what he means by “meek”, but he is quoting Psalm 37 which gives us a very big clue. Lecture notes: https://www.wednesdayintheword.com/matthew18/ Teacher: Krisan Marotta Series: Gospel of Matthew For more information and to hear previous episodes: WednesdayintheWord.com