Reading what is known as the 'Sermon on the Mount' from Jesus in Matthew's Gospel was instrumental in my questioning my Roman Catholic upbringing.
There were ideas that I either never discussed or witnessed associated with my experience with that church.
In addition to Matthew 5-7, the 6th and 11th chapters of Luke also reported statements from that message--a lot of those are covered here in an effort to make this a more complete commentary of Jesus' messages from the Mount--hence the article name: Exploring the Sermon on the Mount: Insights from Matthew 5-7 and Beyond.
As far as where the message was given, most scholars identify it with a hill near Capernaum on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, often called the Mount of Beatitudes today.
The message from Jesus begins with Him telling that various ones are blessed.
In the Latin Vulgate Bible, each of these blessings begins with the Latin word beātī, which translates to 'blessed' (plural adjective) in English.
In this article, I will quote Jesus, other scriptures, Church of God writers in the 2nd and 20th centuries, as well as provide my own comments.
Related to what Jesus said on the mount, Herbert W. Armstrong stated the following:
Did you know that what has been recognized as the greatest sermon ever preached was actually not a sermon at all but merely a matter of Jesus Christ talking to His disciples? And what He told them in that so called Sermon on the Mount, the greatest sermon ever preached, had to do with world conditions and with the world tomorrow. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 2. Broadcast Date: May 2, 1979)
So, Herbert W. Armstrong refers to it as both not a sermon, but also the greatest sermon ever preached.
I would say it was certainly one of the most impactful, if not the most impactful message given.
Now, let's go to the 5th chapter of Matthew and read how it begins:
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:1-3)
The poor is spirit are not haughty like Satan and many others who think that they are rich in the spirit. The sayings in verses 3 through 10/11/12 are commonly known as the Beattitudes.
Luke's account of this has the following:
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
"Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20)
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, where Matthew reports Jesus as having said kingdom of heaven, Mark and Luke and John wherever they mention the same words, mention it as kingdom of God. Actually it's all the same thing. It's not a Kingdom inside of God or inside of Heaven, it is the Kingdom that is owned by and ruled by God or by Heaven because Heaven is His throne. And so it is the heavenly Kingdom that is ruled by Heaven, governed from Heaven by the God of Heaven and that's exactly what it means. ...
Now, in Matthew's account, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." But He's speaking to them — "ye poor in spirit." — "yours is the kingdom of heaven." or the kingdom of God. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
Before going further, let's see a few comments from a 20th century sermon titled Beatitudes by Michael Swagerty:
Jesus ... began in verse 3 by saying (Matthew 5:3), "Blessed are." Now I'd like to stop for a moment before we get into these different Beatitudes and tell you a little bit about the words "blessed are," because I want you to thoroughly understand what we're discussing here. And I think before we're done with these Beatitudes, they are going to test your faith and your belief in God to the strain or to the breaking point. Because you probably, by the time we get done with the Beatitudes, are going to wonder if a person is really blessed if he keeps these. I think you'll be thinking that before we're done.
Because the words "blessed are" means someone who is not just in a small way blessed, it means someone who is supremely blessed. Someone who is infinitely well off and someone who is fortunate beyond measure. Now that's what the Beatitudes have in mind. Someone who was supremely blessed, extremely well off, fortunate beyond measure, if you are a follower of the Beatitudes. (https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getsermon&InfoID=1674312387&byAudioVideo=&SermonList=SermonList&SortList=&page=&return=telecast)
5:4:
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Yes, there is hope for those who mourn.
5:5
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Yes, the earth is the reward of the saved, not heaven.
5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Luke also added that this meant also physically filled:
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. (Luke 6:21)
Herbert W. Armstrong commented:
Now, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness..." But the trouble with that is people are hungering and thirsting after something that gives them a kick out of life and perhaps twitches their nerves a little bit and gives them a sensation and the physical nervous system of the body for the moment and something that is momentarily pleasing to pass away the time while they let their minds stagnate and their bodies lie idle, they don't want to do anything, so we have all these modern gadgets to save us labor and work. You know today, you read the advertising and the implication it is a disgrace to work. It's a disgrace to do any work. You must get more labor saving devices if you want to be in the big-shot class.
Not very many people hunger and thirst after righteousness. Now, Jesus said if they do: "...they shall be filled..." But do you know how most people are today? They're not filled, their lives are empty. They go around with empty lives. They're just bored to death. And they have to invent some kind of a pastime to take away the consciousness of their misery. They're so unhappy. Their life is so dull and so uninteresting that they have to invent some useless nonsensical kind of a pleasure to, well, it's like filling a starving stomach with a lot of husks instead of the real corn or the real food. And it isn't going to help and it isn't going to fill you and make life worthwhile.
Now, God intended life to be full and abundant, interesting every second until it's just dynamic and interesting and good to be alive. And there's only way it can be and that's to find God and God's way and God's Law which was set in motion to make life happy and to make it abundant and worthwhile.
Now, those that really hunger and thirst after righteousness, they're going to have it, they're going to be filled with it. And when you're filled with it, your life is not empty. You're not empty, you're filled. And what do you fill with? Something very good, very, very good -- righteousness. That's right doing. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
5:7
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
God's loving plan is based on mercy.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Yes, "Blessed", now, "are the merciful..." A lot of people haven't very much mercy. Oh, we want God to have mercy though, don't we. It's a good thing He does that He's not like human beings that would take vengeance just without any mercy whatever. "Blessed are the merciful: they shall obtain mercy." If you want to get mercy and we're all coming to the place we're going to want a lot of it, I'll tell you that. Well, then you'd better be merciful, that's the only way you'll ever get it — be merciful to others. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
Consider that James wrote:
13 ... Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
Many people who profess Christianity do not understand God's mercy as part of His plan of salvation (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).
5:8
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Consider that on the other hand, the Pharisees who acted liked they were outwardly pure, were condemned by Jesus:
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23:23-26)
Related to what Jesus said on the Mount, Herbert W. Armstrong said:
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Do you know where Jesus is getting all of this? Do you know that He was just quoting from the scriptures and the Old Testament scriptures at that because the New Testament hadn't been written? Now, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Turn back to Psalm 37:11 and you'll find that. "...they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: they shall be filled." Turn back to the 55th Psalm and you'll find it. And then obtaining mercy, the 18th Psalm, the 25th verse and Proverbs 11:17.
Now, He said, "Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God." If you're really pure in heart. Oh, He was simply expounding the 24th Psalm, the third to the fifth verse, turn back there and you'll find it. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
5:9
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Those that make for peace and know the way of peace are blessed by Jesus. Despite the Apostle Paul twice referring to the "gospel of peace" (Romans 10:15; Ephesian 6:15), most who claim Christianity as their religion, endorse Christians killing in the military--but from the beginning of the church age that was not so --for details, check out the article: Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?
Real Christians are not only to be pacifists, but also peacemakers. That includes sometimes guarding our tongues and enduring insults.
The beatitudes are Jesus' guaranteed promises of blessings with instructions for us to be humble, meek, merciful, and pacifists who hunger to better know the righteous ways of God and be of a pure heart.
And that even when we are attacked for that, to know that God still blesses us.
5:10
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In the 2nd century, Polycarp of Smyrna, a Church of God leader, wrote:
Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter II)
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
And what is righteousness? There's a Bible definition for righteousness. Now, stop to think about it, back in the 119th Psalm, 172nd verse: "...all thy commandments are righteousness." The commandments of God, the way of God is righteousness. Now, you see what you have to have to be filled -- the Commandments of God. And that's the way of God and that is the way that runs counter to the way men want. That isn't the way men like. That doesn't go according to human reason. A human carnal mind is enmity against God. It really thinks God is all wrong and it thinks there's a better way. It's always wanting to argue for a way that looks better to the human mind. And then these poor deluded people wonder why everything is going wrong. Oh, I know people like that and you can't do a thing with them. They're so cock sure that they're right. They're suffering, their lives are empty, they're full of fears for the future, their life is a burden but they're so stubborn, they won't, they just simply will not repent of that very thing that is causing them all their troubles, they're their own worst enemy, they can't see it. ...
And again you know you read in the New Testament {2 Timothy 3:12} that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." "... all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Because ... do you know why? If you live godly in Christ Jesus you're going the way of God's Law, you're living God's way and it's the way that'll make you happy, your life full and abundant but the world doesn't like that way. The world is at enmity against that way and when you live that way, I don't know why people persecute you, unless it's because it sort of puts them under a conviction and a sense of condemnation and they feel self condemned which is a certainly a sort of a mental and a spiritual inferiority complex. And then they try to ride over it and so in order to ride over it they have to condemn you and accuse you and put you down below them in the way they talk and in their attitude. That way, they can trample all over you and climb up on top of you and forget about the fact that they are really down under themselves. They kid themselves in plain language, they deceive themselves into believing they're alright. It merely comes from a sort of a spiritual inferiority complex.
Now, "... all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Do you? If you don't, you're not a real Christian according to the Bible. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
More persecution is coming, and it will mainly at first hit the Philadephian Christians. Instead of most other Christians thinking we are blessed, they will distance themselves from us--but will themselves face severe persecution later (cf. Daniel 7:25). See also: Persecutions by Church and State.
5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
In the 2nd century, Polycarp of Smyrna wrote:
Pray also for kings, and potentates, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the stake, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that you may be perfect in Him. (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter XII)
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, when people "...say all manner of evil against you falsely..." Of course, if they're speaking the truth that's another matter but when they say it falsely "...for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven..." Now, does that mean that you go up to Heaven to get it? When are you going to collect that reward? Your reward is in Heaven but where are you? You're down here. And your reward is up in Heaven. Do you go there to get it or does it come here to you?
Over here in the 11th chapter of Revelation in verse 18 we read about the Second Coming of Christ. Verse 15, the seventh angel has sounded and it's announced: "...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." The time of the Second Coming of Christ when He is coming. He said, "If I go to heaven, I will come again." And He's coming to reign and to rule over the earth. Now, verse 18 says, that at that time, "...the nations were angry, and thy wrath...", God's wrath, "...is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged...," that's the time then of the resurrection that the dead "...should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them that destroy the earth."
There again in the 22nd chapter of Revelation, Jesus is speaking and Jesus here says that He is coming and His reward is with Him — "...behold, I come quickly...", at His Second Coming, "...and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 3. Broadcast Date: May 3, 1979)
Let it be noted that because of myself and other leaders in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) being reviled and evil being spoken against us, many want nothing to do with the CCOG. That is precisely what Satan wants them to do.
People rebelled against Moses, despite the miracles that were done. People had Jesus executed, despite Him telling the truth, performing miracles and fulfilling prophecies.
People revile various ones in the Continuing Church of God, despite the fact that we have restored the most truth in the 21st century as prophesied by Jesus (Matthew 17:11, see Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things) as well as having the confirmed last days' signs of Acts 2:17-18 (see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).
Sadly, prophets have long been spoken against as Jesus said.
But according to biblical prophecies, there should be prophets in the 21st century (see 21st Century Church of God Prophets)--yet most Christians have failed to recognize a true one, as like people of old, they use their standards and opinions, not God's (see also How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God).
Related to some of these passages in Matthew, Luke wrote:
21 ... Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man's sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:21-23)
Yes, people will exclude the faithful when they are hated and reviled by Satan's servants.
This actually happened to the Apostle John:
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. (3 John 9-10)
People have reasoned around and rejected proper hierarchical church governance throughout history (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government). People probably said, well John is not Jesus, and later throughout the centuries came up with various reasons not to accept God's leaders on the earth.
Luke continued with:
24 "But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:24-26)
So, we see several woes in Luke's account that were not in Matthew's.
And notice the warning not only about wealth and those who are now full and laugh, but the warning that people will speak well of false prophets.
That happened in Jerusalem in 130-135 A.D. when many Jews thought that Simon Bar Kochba was the Messiah and not Jesus. Approximately 2,000,000 Jews died because of that between war, famine, and the related pestilence.
But when the propesied false prophet rises up in the 21st century and does signs and wonders, such as mentioned in Revelation 13:10-15, most people will speak well of him.
Yet, at the same basic time, many people will speak against God's two witness and actually rejoice when they are killed (Revelation 11:7-10; see also Who Are The Two Witnesses?).
5:13
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
He continues here with verse 13, "Ye", speaking to His disciples. This does not pertain to the world, This does not pertain to the multitudes or the crowds. This does not pertain to the unconverted or the carnal-minded. This pertains to those that are the begotten children of God. Only those that are, as we say, converted, but what we call converted. And sometimes I think we pretty careless about the way we use that word. Because converted means changed and a lot of people that say, "Well, I was converted." think they're Christians, have never been really changed at all. We're not converted unless we have received the Spirit of God and the very nature of God has been implanted, impregnated within us by the Power of the Spirit of God. Otherwise, we just are not converted or changed. And when that happens, my friends, we are really changed. Then truly old things are gone and we don't care for them anymore and all things are become new. And the things that we once set value to and regarded as being important are now of no importance whatsoever. They seem rather silly and ridiculous. And the things that once seem foolishness to us are now very important. And we come to a sense of the true values. We come into true understanding and knowledge and wisdom. And the Holy Spirit, my friends, is the spirit of a sound mind -- an understanding mind.
Now, He is speaking to those who are begotten when He says, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor", or its flavor, "wherewith shall it be salted?" Well, this earth then has no personality, it has no character, it has no flavor without the Christians and those that are real Christians. They are the ones that are following God and following Christ and following His example. And to have understanding, that have been begotten of Him, they are the flavor and the personality, you might say, of this whole earth.
Now, how could salt lose its flavor?
In ancient times, there was not a lot of pure earth-mined salt. Much of the salt came from drying operations from the seas, salt marshes, and oceans. In Judea, a lot came from the Dead Sea which contained other minerals, which people usually dried in the sun. The dried product, while including salt, would often include other substances such as Gypsum (calcium sulfate), other chlorides and sulfates, various insoluble minerals, dirt, and sediments from the drying beds. With rain, the salt could be leached out of that, the remain minerals, were not salt and did not retain the flavor of salt.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, next He says, "You are the light of the world." And the only light in this dark world is what little light of the true Christianity there is today.
And you know what we find? You know human nature is merely a mixture of good and evil and the thing that Eve took in the Garden of Eden and that Adam also took with her was a tree, not of evil. Did you think it was just evil and sin that they took, that is that which is wrong and evil exclusively and altogether? Well, that is not true. What they took was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil — good and evil. Now, good is wonderful but good mixed with evil is a very bad mixture. And that's what human nature is. It's a mixture of good and evil. Oh, yes, there is a lot of good in the worst and most hardened criminal. There is good in him if you can ever find it. But let me tell you something, the most sanctimonious person I have ever found has a lot of bad and a lot of evil in him or in her, too. Whether you have seen it or recognized it or not. I want to tell you it's there because there is human nature there. And there is evil, as well as good, in human nature. It's a mixture.
But this world is certainly in darkness. There's not much light in it. It has very little understanding. This world is all confused, it's mixed up. It is going the way that seems right to human eyes, but God says the way that seemth right to a man, the end thereof are the ways of death. And that's all we're finding is death and unhappiness, emptiness and poverty and suffering and fears and worries all over this world. That seems to be the curse of this whole earth. And my friends, it's only coming from ignorance, from warped thinking and from a lack of understanding and from a lack of the knowledge of the true values. And in other words, the world is groping in darkness.
Now, there's a little bit of light in this world. But it's such a little bit and such a small proportion, I tell you of those that have the light that the majority of the people on this earth don't even know it, they don't see any of that light. The only light there is is those who have the truth of God and who know the truth ... with those who think they're converted that have been deceived, many have. I'd say the overwhelming majority certainly have, if you really know the Truth. I know a lot of people not knowing are not going to see that and understand it, but God knows that's true and some day we shall all understand. But to those that were His disciples, He said "Ye". And He means you and me today if we have His Truth, if we have His Light. Because the Truth of God is Light and those that have His Truth are the only ones that have any light. It's the only light there is on earth.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a stand; and it shineth even unto all that are in the house. Even so", He said, "let your light shine before men..." Now what did He mean? Did He mean by that since you have the Truth and you have the knowledge of that which is true and it's the light of the world and Jesus said let it shine. Does that mean go out and open your Bible and stop people right down on the street and say, "Now look, I'm going to give you some light here. I'm going to give you some Truth." And try to argue them into the Truth? Is that what Jesus meant? Did He say go and argue, go and talk, go and explain? That isn't what He said. "...let your light shine before men; that they may", He didn't say hear your arguments but, "that they may see your good works..." But you know today, you're being told and you're hearing sermons and much preaching telling you there are no works to a Christian life. It's merely a faith, yes, an empty faith, but that's not the real Christian life, my friends.
Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men", how? "...that they may see your good works..." The way you live, the things you do and not the arguments or the way you talk. Don't try to argue anyone into the Truth, my friends. God gave each one a mind that is free and imbued with a principle of free moral agency. And God has given everyone the privilege, if they think it's a privilege, it really isn't, but shall we say, the right, but it isn't really very right, but the right, if you could use that word, to be wrong if anyone wishes to be wrong. God will not cram His religion down anybody's throat. You can believe what you please. You can disagree with me. And you know, I wouldn't cross the street to try to talk you out of it or argue in to believing my way. Because, I know that I just couldn't do that. You know you can't argue a mind into seeing the Truth of God, because the Truth is after all spiritual and the natural mind doesn't understand it anyway. It comes by actual revelation of God. And until God opens a mind to see it, a natural mind can't. You're wasting your time, you're wasting your breath and effort trying to argue anyone into the Truth or just talk them into it. You can't do it. That's one place where salesmanship in the usual sense does no good. The only kind of salesmanship that will win anyone over to God and to Jesus Christ is just what He says here, "that they may see your good works..." Men can really see that, if you will live the way God says, "...and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 4. Broadcast Date: May 4, 1979)
Notice how important God's people are:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
Yes, without true Christians, which are a "little flock" (Luke 11:32) and inconsequential as far as the bulk of the world is concerned, all life would be destroyed.
5:17
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, He says, "Think not that I come to destroy the law or the prophets..." Well, a great many today that think He did. They say, "Why Jesus came to do away that Law." He says, "Think not I come to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill." Well, now a lot of them say that's true. He didn't destroy it, He merely fulfilled it.
And I heard an argument one time and this happen to be a preacher that had come to a person that had been converted under my preaching and he said, "Now look. I want to show you what that means." He said, "I owe you a dollar, or perhaps you owe me a dollar." And he said, "You come and pay me the dollar. You have fulfilled your obligation. You haven't destroyed it. You didn't annul it. You didn't do away with it. You merely fulfilled it. You paid me the dollar."
Now, if I come and ask you again for a dollar, why, you see, I think you would say, if I'd asked you for it a second time, you would say, "Why, no." I fulfilled my obligation, I don't have to do it anymore, it's already done. So he says you see that since Jesus fulfilled the Law we don't have to do, it's already done. Isn't that a wonderful argument?
Now, do you see through that my friends? That's a trick argument and it's a very deceptive one. He owed one dollar to be paid once. And when that one payment was performed according to the terms of the obligation, that's all there was to it.
But the Law of God, as we read back here in the 19th chapter of Psalms, the 19th Psalm. And also we can turn over here to the 111th Psalm. Let's turn over to that, the 111th Psalm. "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." The works of His hands, Jesus, which was God, wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger on the tables of stone. The works of His hands. "All his Commandments", all 10 of them, that's what it's talking about, "are sure. They stand fast forever and ever..." "They stand fast forever and ever..."
Now, what's wrong with the Commandments of God? Are they so imperfect that Jesus had to do away with them? In the 19th Psalm and the 7th verse it says, "The law of the Eternal is perfect, converting the soul..." Oh, does that have anything to do with converting a person? It says so: "...converting the soul: the testimony of the Eternal is sure, making wise the simple."
You know, David said, "Oh how love I thy law." It was his meditation all the day and all of his waking hours. Well, today people seem to hate it and they like to think and to get the impression over that God is all wrong, and that man's ways are right, and that God's Law is harsh and stern and contrary to our best interests and against us and that Jesus did away with it. ...
Now, here Jesus said, "For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, until all be fulfilled" (or accomplished). In other words, until the whole world is fulfilling that Law. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments..." Which do you think is the least you don't want to keep? "Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven" — the Kingdom of God that'll be here on this earth. "For I say unto you, except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into" it. Now, anyone that will try to break the least of them. But anyone that will keep the Commandments and teach them so will be great in the Kingdom of God. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 4. Broadcast Date: May 4, 1979)
Many do not want to actually do what the God of the Bible wants related to His law. The Apostle Paul gave the following warnings and teaching:
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia -- remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. (1 Timothy 1:3-7)
Notice that the purpose of the law is love, yet there are those that strayed, used idle talk to turn people away. This was perhaps the core reason that there was a parting of the ways between the faithful and the bulk of those who claim to follow Jesus (see also What was the Parting from the Way?).
5:20
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Pharisees focus was on how they looked, not on giving love.
27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)
5:21
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, he continued. Now, let's notice how He put a magnifying glass on the Ten Commandments and magnified them. You know that Isaiah said that when He came He wouldn't do away with the Law of God, He would magnify it and make it honorable. And that's exactly what He did and yet today you're hearing that He did exactly the opposite. Well, read your own Bible my friends and see what the Bible says instead of what enemies of God's Word or those who are deceived are saying.
Now, verse twenty-one, Matthew five, "You have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill..." Now, that's one of the Ten Commandments. Now, watch Jesus magnify it and bring it out. In those old days according to the strict letter, a man wasn't killed, you hadn't committed murder until his last breath stopped, his heart stopped beating, I mean, and the man was completely pronounced dead. Alright, but Jesus said, "And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment...", and so on. But Jesus said, "I say unto you," watch Him magnify that Law, "that everyone of you who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Racca..." Now, that has been interpreted as thou fool. It's a Hebrew expression actually, moreh, a Hebrew expression of condemnation, condemning another. "...shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say Thou fool, shall be danger of hell fire" or "shall say unto him Thou fool, shall be in danger of Gehenna fire." Now, there the Hebrew word, or the Greek word rather...
Now, here the word is not hades but is "Gehenna" which does refer to a fire that burned up everything that was put into it. The things put in there didn't keep burning and burning but the fires were kept burning by putting more and more fuel onto the fire all the time. But the things put in there were consumed, they were totally destroyed, annihilated and that was the very thing that Jesus used as an example. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 6. Broadcast Date: May 9, 1979)
5:23
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Jesus was teaching to get our priorities right.
Don't think that you can be right with God if you will not be right with humans.
The Apostle John was inspired to write:
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21)
That was basically what Jesus was teaching.
5:27
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Personal lust is condemned. The priority is not what someone feels like, the priority is to be of a pure heart as Jesus said in verse 8, which this type of lust opposes.
Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Now, continuing here in verse twenty-seven, Jesus took another Commandment. He said, "You have heard it said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:" Now, until someone had committed the actual act of adultery it wouldn't have been adultery in the strictness, technical sense in the letter of the Law. But Jesus said, "I say unto you, That everyone that looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Oh, He carried it clear to the very spirit and principle of the Law, way beyond the technical letter.
Now, even hatred against another is murder in the heart. And even lust in the heart, that is sex lust, becomes adultery according to the way Jesus magnified the Law. (Armstrong HW. Sermon on the Mount - Part 6. Broadcast Date: May 9, 1979)
Yes, Jesus came to magnify the law, basically by showing it had to do with love, not just outward show or acts.
And His magnifying the law was prophesied:
21 YHWH has delight for the sake of His righteousness, "" He magnifies law, and makes honorable. (Isaiah 42:21, LSV)
21 The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable. (Isaiah 42:21, NKJV)
Yet, many do not accept or understand that, hence they parted from the way (watch Parting from THE WAY).
5:29
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (NKJV)
29 But if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast from you, for it is good to you that one of your members may perish, and not your whole body be cast into Gehenna. (LSV)
No, we do not want people to pluck out eyes nor cut off their hands, but to not focus on sin.
What did Christ mean when He said, "And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out..." (Matt. 5:29-30)?
First, it is obvious that Christ did not intend this instruction to be taken literally. The eye and hand cannot, of themselves, sin. Sin originates in the mind. Therefore, a person who is totally blind or lame can still sin.
Jesus was simply using vital parts of the body to illustrate a principle. He was explaining that a Christian should not tolerate sin as a part of his life.
If an individual has a sinful habit, he ought to totally eradicate that habit, even though the process may be as painful as losing an eye or a hand. If, for example, looking at something tempts someone to sin, he shouldn't look at it — he should turn his eyes elsewhere. What Christ is saying is that it would be better to give up a sinful pleasure than to lose out on salvation (Col. 3:5-17). (Questions & Answers. Good News, April 1983)
But notice that physical things, including body parts, is NOT more important than being in God's kingdom.
Notice also that Jesus was teaching annihilation in Gehenna.
Protestants, in general, teach that any who have not accepted Jesus in this life will suffer eternal torment in the Gehenna fire that Jesus spoke of. People like Augustine of Hippo and Protestant Reformer John Calvin taught that included infants and the mentally-disabled.
Here is a historic Protestant view of punishment as expressed in the Westminster Confession (1646):
“but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (Chapter XXXIII, Of the Last Judgment)
According to a year 2000 report from the Alliance Commission on Unity & Truth among Evangelicals the majority of Protestants have held that the unsaved will be in a place of unending conscious torment, both physical and spiritual. Because of influence from Dante Alighieri’s 14th century poem known as The Divine Comedy, the area he called the Inferno/Infernus gave many people the wrong impression that God has a place of torturing that would last forever.
But that is not what the Bible teaches.
The Hebrew scriptures teach annihilation:
3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:3)
Note: Gehenna IS a proper rendering above. Mistranslations of it and the words hades and tartaroosas have led to misunderstanding about annihilation among the Greco-Roman-Protestants. The word Gehenna represents “the Valley of HINNOM which lay just outside of Jerusalem and was the place where refuse was constantly being burned up” (The Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, Lesson 6, 1977). The word hades refers to the grave—it, of itself, is not a reference to “the lake of fire” (cf. Revelation 20:14).
It is first referred to in scripture in Joshua 15:8. It was also associated with pagan fire practices in 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31-32, 19:2-6, & 32:35. Trash, filth, the dead bodies of animals, and DESPISED CRIMINALS were thrown into Gehenna. Ordinarily, everything thrown into this valley was DESTROYED by fire. Christ used it to picture the terrible fate of UNREPENTANT SINNERS! Please understand that JESUS USED THE WORD GEHENNA 11 TIMES IN THE TEXTUS RECEPTUS (the text that the KJV was translated from). Jesus knew what it meant! But instead, various Protestant leaders do not want people to comprehend what Jesus was really teaching. For more details, check out Study the Bible Course Lesson 15: What is “Hell”? of the Continuing Church of God.
Despite Jesus’ teaching on annihilation, as mentioned earlier, the early followers of Martin Luther condemned the annihilation view:
XVII: … They condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils. (The Confession of Faith: Which Was Submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V. At the Diet of Augsburg in the Year 1530. By Philip Melanchthon, 1497-1560)
Notice more scriptures from the New Testament:
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13-15)
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
The second death is not like physical death—it is a permanent annihilation. See also: The Second Death.
In the 2nd century, Ignatius of Antioch taught:
Seeing, then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us — death and life; and every one shall go unto his own place. (Letter to the Magnesians, Chapter 5).
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. (Letter to the Magnesians, Chapter 10).
Annihilation is what Jesus taught and that is what we in the Continuing Church of God teach. Annihilation, the second death, eliminates future suffering--it will put them out of their misery and prevent them for causing others to be miserable. It is an act of love and mercy from God.
5:31
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Your priority should not be to leave your spouse.
The Bible shows that God's hates divorce:
14 ... the Lord has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.16 "For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one's garment with violence,"
Says the Lord of hosts.
"Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously." (Malachi 2:14-16)
The Bible calls the woman a wife by covenant. And that covenant is a marriage covenant. God hates divorce.
Jesus opposed it.
Jesus taught more about marriage and divorce:
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"
8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." (Matthew 19:3-12)
Wierdly, I heard that there were people in my former COG who thought they had found a loophole. One partner would commit adultery, so they could get divorced and then remarried. While they may think they found a loophole, God knows and God will judge. Those so remarrying are committing adultery.
Anyway, do not commit adultery.
5:33
33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
So, no, we in the Continuing Church of God do not swear oaths. In the USA, at least, one can say they affirm something is truth, and my wife and I have had to do that on a variety of legal matters and certain forms and documents.
As far as vow-type oaths go, we read the following warnings from the Hebrew scriptures:
21 "When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. 23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed —
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6)
5:38
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Luke wrote:
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. (Luke 6:29-30)
Here are some 20th century COG comments on this from the Plain Truth magazine:
neither Christ nor the apostle Paul "turned the other cheek" in the sense that some interpret Jesus' words in Matthew 5. What, then, does this phrase really mean? Matthew 5:38-41, part of Christ's Sermon on the Mount, reads: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs "from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you" (RSV).
Here Christ is reacting to the lex talionis (law of retaliation) of the Old Testament, which stated that revenge was to be appropriate" an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," no more and no less (see Exodus 21:23-24 and Deuteronomy 19:21). This law limited the amount of revenge one could take on another. In other words, if a man knocked out your tooth you couldn't break his neck for it. But now Christ is saying "vengeance is God's"; that a Christian should forgive rather than exact a specific legal penalty from one who wrongs him. In other words, taking aggressive action against someone who wrongs you is not in keeping with New Testament Christian principles. We are not to return evil for evil (Rom. 12:17); rather we are to forgive our enemies. Here Christ is actually advocating assertive behavior — being in control of the situation. If someone takes you to court and demands your inner garment, give him two garments — your outer one as well. (Old Testament law forbade a creditor to keep this cloak or outer garment overnight — Exodus 22:25-26.) If a Roman courier conscripts you into carrying his mail pouch one mile, show him that you are doing it of your own free will. Go an extra mile. We are not to participate in aggressive retaliation, but Christ here urges that we take control of our lives — that we use the options available to us. ("So you think you have control over my life because you took my shirt. Well, I'll show you that you don't — here's my coat, too, which I'm going to let you take." Or, "Come on — I want to carry it another mile. It's my choice and I want to do it.")
So if your enemy hungers, feed him. But if he just walks up to you and grabs your chicken-salad sandwich, you are not feeding him voluntarily. You are not "turning the other cheek" or "going the extra mile," because you had no choice in the matter. The apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians to react assertively rather than submit to false teachers (II Cor. 11:1-21). He wrote: "For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face" (verse 20, RSV). The implication is very plain — they ought not to have put up with such people who took advantage of them. They had the right to assert themselves. Instead, they were passive and submissive, encouraging aggressive behavior on the part of those false teachers.
(Some people say that Christianity contributes to neurosis — that it causes people to "turn the other cheek" in a nonassertive manner, building up a reservoir of frustration that ultimately leads to aggressive behavior. But as we have seen, this kind of "turning the other cheek" is not true Christianity at all — it's a false understanding of what Jesus meant and what God requires. No, true Christianity calls for freedom — for standing fast in that liberty that Christ has given us. As assertive Christians, we can by our own voluntary choice give up our rights, and lay down our possessions, our time, or even our lives in service to others. We have been given freedom of choice and the right to behave assertively.) (Antion D. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK? Plain Truth, January 1978)
5:43
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Luke wrote:
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ...
32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. (Luke 6:27, 32-35)
Christians are to hate sin, otherwise we are not to be in the hate business.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Jesus also taught:
29 ... "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:29-31)
Actually, four times it is recorded in the gospels (Matthew 19:30, 20:16; Mark 9:12, 10:31) that Jesus said that many of the first will be last.
Who are the first?
Christians who will be in the FIRST RESURRECTION. But are they not blessed and holy?
Yes:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
However, notice that the REST not part of the first resurrection will be resurrected. Jesus has promised that He will reward people according to their works (Matthew 16:27; Revelatin 22:12).
Remember that those NOT called in this age, will have an opportunity in the age to come.
And according to Jesus MANY of them will be first and MANY called in this age will be last.
So, yes, if you are not diligent (2 Peter 1:5-10), not Philadelphian in love and work (Revelation 3:7-13), it may be that some who you may consider to be enemies will be over you in the post-millennial kingdom of God. So, treat them NOW as God would have you do so.
Perhaps we could consider that another truth that was restored in the 21st century.
Consider further about why God made others? They assist in YOUR character development now, and in the future:
God’s plan for all who will respond to Him is to be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for them personally and everyone else — (The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?)
Yes, others will make YOUR eternity better. So, please respect what God has made, including others. Others who may be better than us.
So, remember humility.
Luke added that Jesus taught:
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)
Jesus warned against being unmerciful and taught we must forgive:
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." (Matthew 18:21-35)
5:48
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
STRIVING FOR PERFECTION IS THE PRIORITY! Or at least is supposed to be for real Christians.
Jesus also taught:
20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)
Jesus prayed that Christians would be perfect and be one with the Father like He is.
Notice the following that salvation itself is tied in with obedience and perfection:
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9)
Jesus kept the commandments and was perfected--and those who wish to be saved need to obey Him and strive for that perfection!
Notice more of what the New Testament teaches:
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (Hebrews 6:1)
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Christians are to go on to perfection, and Jesus is our example.
9 ... "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
While we are not perfect in this life (cf. 1 John 1:10), we are to strive for perfection.
God will perfect us if we submit to His mercy:
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8)
The Apostle Paul taught that he was striving towards perfection as he had not yet attained it:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
Part of the purpose of the ministry is to help Christians become perfect. Notice some of what the Apostle Paul's wrote to the Ephesians:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16, KJV)
The Berean Literal Bible, Literal Standard Version, and the Douay-Rheims Bible also use the term "perfecting" for verse 12:
12 toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:12, BLB)
12 to the perfecting of the holy ones, for a work of ministry, for a building up of the body of the Christ, (Ephesians 4:12, LSV)
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12, DRB)
God does not teach that you are to be independent to be perfected (see also Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers).
Notice that even Jesus was made "perfect" through His sufferings:
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
And what about us?
Notice what James was inspired to write:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:2-12)
Christians have to endure, be steadfast, and consider our trials--not spend our time complaining or thinking that the trials we face have no purpose.
Our priority is to be of a pure heart as we strive for perfection as Jesus instructed His followers to do.
Jesus' promises are guaranteed to those who will truly live to obey Him.
Here is a link to a related sermon: Sermon on the Mount: Beatitudes & Priorities.
Now to chapter 6
6:1-4
1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Many things that people do are done for others to see. To this day, atheists, Jews, Protestants, and Greco-Roman Catholics have their names on plaques and buildings related to their donations.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (Ephesians 6:5-9)
The old WCG published the following:
Humanly, we want to be out in the limelight so that others can see how much we serve. That's why Christ said: "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them..." (Matt. 6:1). It's so easy, so typical of us as humans to just mention in passing the things we have done in serving.
When you serve, don't let others know. Do it undercover and behind the scenes if it can be done that way. Be eager and willing to do the type of job that no one notices when it is done, but everyone notices when it is not done. After all, the fewer the people who know what you are doing to serve, the easier it is for you to keep your human vanity in check.
An outstanding example of behind-the-scenes service is that of Epaphras, who labored fervently in prayer for God's people (Col. 4:12). Prayer is one of the most vital ways we can serve in God's Work. Yet how many of us are spending so much as a half hour on our knees for this Work of God each day? If you really want to serve, here's a behind-the-scenes place to begin.
The Apostle Paul taught:
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:22-25)
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Yes, we are to work even when not being watched. We also should realize that God is always watching us.
Jesus then gives warnings about wanting to be seen about prayer 6:5-8:
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
The first time I attended what was supposed to be a Church of God service was on a Sabbath, in 1976. I left after the minister said the word "Lord" and/or Jesus dozens of times in a row. It was from that experience that I learned that it does make a difference which Church of God one is associated with.
Now, as it turns out, praying the Roman Catholic rosary is an exercise in repetition:
Our Father (known as the Lord’s Prayer)
6 times total
1 time at the beginning (before the three Hail Marys)
1 time at the start of each decade (5 decades)
Hail Mary
53 times total
3 times at the beginning (for faith, hope, charity)
10 times for each of the 5 decades → 50
Glory Be (Doxology)
6 times total
1 time after the opening three Hail Marys
- 1 time after each decade (5)
Similarly, the most common 'penance' given to Roman Catholics is to repeat certain prayers numerous times.
That is despite Jesus' warning against vain repetition.
Now here is Jesus' further instructions on prayer 6:9-13:
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come.Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
An important key to understanding this prayer is explained clearly in verse 9, which states: "In this MANNER therefore pray." Jesus did not say to repeat His words verbatim. He said this is the manner, or outline for your prayers.
Related to verse 13, Polycarp of Smyrna wrote:
Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; watching unto prayer and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God 'not to lead us into temptation' (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter VII)
Here is Luke's account:
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one." (Luke 11:1-4)
Herbert W. Armstrong taught:
Now, so we address the Father who is in Heaven, "Hallowed it be thy Name..." Oh, we are to begin by honoring God's name, not desecrating it and we're not to take it in vain by vain repetition by praying all the time... Of course Lord isn't God's name, but I've heard people just say Lord about every fourth or fifth word in a prayer. That is religious profanity. I know they don't mean it, they don't realize it. I don't think God will perhaps hold them accountable for what they don't know but certainly if we know better we should quit it.
Now, the next, "Thy kingdom come..." God's Kingdom is God's Government. God's Kingdom is God's Family. And notice the Kingdom of God is the Gospel Jesus preached. Why have they tried to do away with that teaching? Why have they had to try to do away with Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not some intangible thing inside of you. The Kingdom of God is not some fluffy-fluff up in the sky somewhere that doesn't amount to anything. The Kingdom of God is not the Church. The Kingdom of God is not the British Empire. The Kingdom of God is something that God is going to setup. It's the Government of God, it's the Family of God which we can be born into. But it is a reigning, governing, ruling Family and that Family is ruled by its Father — God the Father. Oh, God help us to understand. Now, we're to pray for that Kingdom to come. It can come to you, now, but the Kingdom visibly setup on earth, will not come until the second coming of Christ.
Then the next thing, "Thy will be done..." If God's Kingdom is here. If His Kingdom has taken up in your heart, so that you'll surrender to be begotten as a citizen of it now, you will be doing His will, not your own. And then again: "as in heaven, so on earth..." It is done in Heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread." You look to God to supply your need so then you can next now begin to ask God for the things you need after you have asked that God will help you to obey Him, help you to let Him reign and rule over you, that you live by every word of God. And you can't do that without asking Him to open the Bible to your understanding, that you can understand it, read every word of it, you're to live by every word of it.
Then you ask Him to forgive you, next, of your sins, your debts, as you have forgiven others. If you don't forgive others, God will not forgive you. But you need to daily ask God to forgive you. For you're doing many things every day that are not right. And anything that is not right is contrary to the laws of God.
And then, "Bring us not into temptation..." And the real Greek of that is: "Thou wouldst not be bringing us into temptation..." , because God tempts no man. "But deliver us from evil or the evil one." So you ask Him then to deliver you to help you to overcome and be an overcomer. (Armstrong HW. Prayer, Radio Broadcast Date: May 14, 1979, https://www.Herbert W. Armstronglibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/Herbert W. Armstrong.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1331127559)
To assist you with prayer, we have a free eBook: Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?
Jesus then added 6:14-15:
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness is important. What many do not realize is that not only will God not forgive you if you are not forgiving, not forgiving is harmful for the one who does not forgive.
In the 2nd century, Polycarp of Smyrna wrote:
If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter VI)
6:16a
16 "Moreover, when you fast,
The old WCG added:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples to give generously from the heart and to pray to God continually. Then, in Matthew 6:16, He said, "Moreover when ye fast..." He just took for granted they would fast. (But by Prayer and Fasting. WCG, 1979)
6:16-18
16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
This is similar to what Jesus said about praying to be seen by others as well.
6:19
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Notice something from Ecclesiastes:
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: ... 2 A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; ... 3 A time to break down, And a time to build up; ... 5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones; (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,3,5)
Now notice something from the Book of Proverbs:
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, (Proverbs 13:22)
Jesus said not to lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but that did not mean one was to impoverish oneself unnecessarily.
Jesus' 1/2 brother James wrote:
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (James 5:1-8)
James is warning those who are heaping up treasures for the last days by depriving others that their wealth will be corrupted. Now, he also mentioned to be patient until Jesus returned. It is my view that those Philadelphian Christians who have much in the way of riches in the last days will use a lot of their wealth to help others once the church flees to the wilderness.
6:22
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Be careful what you look at. This includes entertainment.
Luke's account states:
33 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light." (Luke 11:33-36)
Notice also:
15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)
Don't look at things to lust after them.
6:24a,b
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
This brought to mind a Bob Dylan song titled Gotta Serve Somebody. The song argues that regardless of social status or possessions, everyone is bound to serve a higher will. The central lyric is:
"Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody. Serve somebody."
And that is true, but most people who are serving the devil do not realize that is what they are actually doing. Satan has deceived people to persuade themselves that their will, they way they feel or what they want, they are serving themselves. But, in actuality, they are serving the devil as slaves to sin.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-19)
6:25c
25c You cannot serve God and mammon.
The old WCG published the following:
Jesus Christ of Nazareth utters one of the most profound truisms in all of the Bible: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (verse 24). The very essence of this age can be summed up in the one word "mammon." Webster defines it as "material wealth or possessions esp. having an evil power or debasing influence" (Third New International Dictionary, unabridged).
Mammon is where it's at. It embodies all the competition, strife, greed and lust attendant to this world's way -- all the debasing elements that are attached to the love of money. But Jesus says that you cannot serve God and mammon. You have to choose one or the other! God always gives us a choice. But He always advises us to "Choose life that both you and your children may live" (cf. Deut. 30:19).
Jesus' advice is no different. (Armstrong GT. God Loves a Cheerful Giver - Part Two. Good News, August 1975)
The fact that the Bible teaches tithing, Jesus affirmed tithing (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42), and early Christians tithed, is an obstacle to many in this age who claim to want to do God's will. They don't think that they are serving mammon, but their refusal to tithe shows that they are.
People claim to have faith, but they do not have the faith to put God to the test on this.
Notice something from the Old and New Testaments:
8 "Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
'In what way have we robbed You?'
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,"
Says the Lord of hosts,
"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:8-10)6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:
"He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever."10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, (2 Corinthians 9:6-13)
More on tithing can be found in the article: Tithing Questions and Some Answers.
6:25
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Related to these verses, Herbert W. Armstrong said:
Take No Anxious Care
Well listen how Jesus explains it. "Therefore I say unto you take no thought [and the true translation of that should be anxious thought, worried thought, over concern. You should be concerned about your business and your life, but it's the anxious, worried, over concern, where it dominates and fills your whole life and that's all you have in it. Take none of that kind of thought for your life] what you shall eat what you shall drink, nor yet for your body what you shall put on."
Now God knows you have need of those things so just listen. "Is not the life more than meat and the body more than raiment [or clothing]? Behold the fowls of the air they sow not [they don't go out and plant seed, they don't plow up ground] neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they?
Which of you by taking [this kind of] thought [this anxious, worried thought that dominates your life], which of you can add one cubit to his stature?" Or shall we say one inch in modern American language.
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not neither do they spin: and yet Solomon in all of his glory — and all of the taxes that he took in from the people of the whole nation — was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothed the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith? Wherefore take no thought [that is this anxious, worried concern. This over-thought] saying What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all of these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things [but now listen, here is the final answer]. Seek ye first [put first in your heart, first in your interest] the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added."
My friends, it took me a great many years to learn that lesson the hard way by experience. I started out putting all my heart and all my interest in mammon. In the things that would feed and clothe and shelter me and give me amusement and entertainment, and that would exalt my pride and vanity of being successful in the business world, as I fully expected to become. I was willing to pay the price and I was quite successful as a young man. I was making a great deal of money and I was earning it.
I had to give all of that up and when I put it secondarily and as a matter of fact in my case I put it about out completely, because my life finally came to be completely given over to and devoted to God and to His work. And I frankly never expected to be able to have anything and for years we didn't. And we had to work and work as hard as if I had been the executive head of a good size corporation. And there were years while we were learning our lesson and while God was bringing us to Him that we didn't have enough to eat and we know what it is go hungry. And then there were years after we found God we still had a hard time until we learned the lesson about tithing. From the very moment the very day that we began tithing, later that same day, enough food came and we have never been hungry since -- never.
You know God set a law there in motion. Even though we had, I had been converted and given ourselves to God, I didn't fully understand God's law of tithing and as a result of not fully understanding we were a little careless about it and we weren't tithing as faithfully as we should, and we were still going hungry on occasion. God let us learn that lesson the hard way and when we learned it, we have never had to go hungry since.
Now God said "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" and we did. Well it was a long, slow, hard climb and for years we had very little. And all of the brethren that we knew up in Oregon in the early days of this work -- I won't say all of them but I will say that a large portion of them -- lived better than we lived. They had better things than we had, they drove better automobiles than we did, but God says "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things [these material things] shall be added". And God is faithful and I have found Him faithful.
You know God doesn't want you to be poor. God wishes above all things that we might prosper and be in health. God prospered Joseph and he was a prosperous man and God prospered everything he did because he trusted God and obeyed God. But as David said, if God does prosper you, if He does add those things after you have sought His kingdom and His righteousness first, he says don't set your heart on the prosperity. But be grateful and thankful for it as a gift from God try to put it to His use and to His service and use it in His work and to His honor and glory and He will bless you in it. (Armstrong HW. Why Were You Born? Part 6. Radio Broadcast HA515B).
Jesus said to not worry, but take things one day at a time.
That does not mean that you cannot or should not plan, but you should not get overly anxious over physical things, because if you will seek first the kingdom of God, God promises you will have what you need.
Now to Chapter 7
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
Jesus also said:
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:22)
The old WCG published the following:
Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged." Yet, just a few verses later in that same Sermon on the Mount, He said, "You shall know them by their fruits."
The first statement is clear. But at the same time, the second implies that some form of judgment or assessment takes place in the mind of a Christian. What is the real difference between these two concepts? The answer to that question underscores one of the toughest challenges to a Church member. It focuses on a fundamental quality of character essential to every begotten son of God!
Commanded not to condemn
When Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1), the term obviously referred to judgment in the sense of condemnation or pronouncement of guilt. It is plain in the verses that follow that no one is really capable of such judgment because we all are blinded to some degree by our own shortcomings.
Regardless of accomplishments in this life, no one has the prerogative to sit in spiritual judgment of others. Indeed, Jesus Himself did not come to judge (condemn): "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"(John 3:17). The word condemn in this verse is derived from the same Greek word that we have already seen in Matthew 7:1.
There are a number of reasons why no man should sit in judgment (condemnation) of another. One important reason is expounded by the apostle Paul in Romans 2. The chapter begins with the same thought as Matthew 7:1."Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges... for you that judge do the same things." The term judge refers to condemnation as shown in the context. This is again the same Greek word as used in Matthew 7:1.
As the apostle discusses the subject, he says in verse 4, "Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"
This verse directly relates to II Peter 3:9, which says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."Space to repent
It is a natural reaction to lunge quickly into accusation when we see the wrongdoing of others, all the while being blinded to our own shortcomings. But as we point the finger, we fail to remember that God is aware of all and has chosen not to intervene at the moment. He is literally giving us space to repent.
In addressing the Thyatiran church in Revelation 2, God spoke of "that woman Jezebel" and mentioned her sins and pollutions within the church. He said, "And I gave her. space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not"(Rev. 2:21).
The point is obvious. God has given us all "space to repent."
God is not willing that any should perish. It is not our right to condemn a brother. In so doing we might be invading that space to repent that God has personally dealt to each person. Besides, all of us have some type of beam in our eyes that prevents us from seeing clearly.Develop ability to discern
Many reasons could be cited for not condemning another. The scriptural teachings are quite clear. But by the same token, Christians have an obligation to use their minds wisely and develop their judgment to the point of discernment. (Stocker LE. Judge Not. Good News Magazine May 1979)
7:2
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Polycarp wrote:
He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching : "Judge not, that you be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that you may obtain mercy; with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again; and once more" (Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians, Chapter II)
7:3
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
We humans like to judge others based on outward appearance and will often excuse behaviors in ourselves that we condemn others for, as well as having even bigger problems ourselves. That is why Jesus is calling such who do that hypocrites.
Remember, that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)--and that include me and you. Hence, we all need to be careful about judgments.
7:6
6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Notice also something Jesus used the analogy of pearls:
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46)
So, we should not only give all to be in God's kingdom, we need to use wisdom and discretion related to reaching people with the truth about it.
The old WCG taught:
The truth of God is too precious to be thrown about indiscriminately! In Matthew 7:6 Jesus taught us an important principle: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." He was not calling people "dogs" or "swine"; He was merely explaining the reaction of some people to the truth of God. Many people, when exposed to the truths of God's Word, will treat them with contempt and persecute those who have given the truth to them. A Christian should, therefore, use discretion in determining to whom he will explain the undiluted stronger truths of God. Jesus sent His disciples on a preliminary evangelistic tour with this instruction: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16). (The Parables of Jesus. Ambassador College publications, 1974)
Answering Questions
Though God is not calling most to actively teach His Word, He has provided an outlet for those who are brimful with enthusiasm about the right way of life. Peter wrote, "...Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (I Pet. 3:15). Everyone who knows the answers to the whys and wherefores of human existence should be ready and willing to share that wonderful knowledge with those who ASK.
But all too often the tendency is to take every principle inquiry as an opportunity to launch into a long dissertation — expounding all that one has recently learned and denouncing the evils of this society. Solomon wrote of that proclivity of human nature in Proverbs 29:11: "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." The big factor in answering questions is to discern the attitude of the questioner. Is he looking for an argument? Only mildly curious? Or is he sincerely seeking more knowledge and understanding? In most cases, the less one tells an argumentative skeptic, the better. Remember that Christ said, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matt. 7:6). (Not that every person who does not accept the Truth is a "swine." It is simply an analogy.)
If someone is sincerely interested in God's way of life, you should certainly answer his questions to the best of your ability — but don't be like the fool of Proverbs 29:11 who expounds all he knows. Tell the questioner enough to satisfy him for the moment; but leave him with enough curiosity to come back later with more questions. And then, most importantly, point that individual to the Work through which God is witnessing to the world. Encourage him to write for The PLAIN TRUTH, TOMORROW'S WORLD, or some of the booklets that cover his questions. ... Perhaps you could even give him some of your magazines or booklets. But remember, no layman, no minister, no human being is able to convert anyone. Only God can open someone's eyes to the Truth (John 6:44). If God is working with one of your friends, he will want to learn more — and he will be willing to go to God's chosen servants to get answers. And if God is not opening his mind, you will only arouse antagonism by pushing these truths on him. (Wiedenheft R. Be Seen & Not Heard. Tomorrow's World Magazine November 1971)
7:7
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Luke wrote:
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)
Sadly, many say that they seek the truth, but they will not take the necessary steps to do so.
We are not to simply casually ask, we are to be diligent:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
We need to know the word of truth--the Bible--to be able to better rightly divide matters.
Consider that the Book of Proverbs teaches:
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)
Many will not take the effort to truly learn and live by the word of God.
7:9
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Luke wrote:
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (Luke 11:11-12)
Jesus is clearly teaching that serpents and scorpions, both biblical unclean creatures, are not good to to eat (cf. Leviticus 11). Instead, Jesus endorsed fish and eggs, which are both to be eaten per the Hebrew scriptures (Leviticus 11:9; Deuteronomy 14:9, 22:6-7; Job 6:6; Luke 24:42).
7:11
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Luke wrote:
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13)
Let us also consider that one is to also obey God to actually receive the Holy Spirit as the following shows:
29 ... Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We are obligated to obey God rather than men. ... 32 And we are His witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those who obey Him." (Acts 5:29, 32, A Faithful Version)
The Father gives good gifts, including salvation, to those who obey Him.
28 Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 12:28)
8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:8-10)
7:12:
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Luke wrote:
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)
This is basically known as the 'Golden Rule.'
Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
God's Law is LOVE! And true LOVE is outgoing concern, with desire to GIVE, to SHARE, to HELP, to SERVE as much concerned about others' welfare as its own. It follows the Law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Its Golden Rule is, "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto YOU." But human nature's golden rule is, "Do it unto others before they do it to you."
God's LAW is the WAY to the CAUSE of PEACE, HAPPINESS, JUSTICE, ABUNDANCE, GOOD to ALL. It's a matter of CAUSE and EFFECT.
For 6,000 years this world has practiced the opposite WAY: the WAY of selfishness, getting the best of a deal, taking, getting, competition, strife, vanity, lust, greed, jealousy, resentment, hatred, war and murder. The EFFECT of that cause has been unhappiness, crime, broken health, broken homes, violence, war, every kind of injustice, inequality, frustration, unsolvable problems, poverty, ignorance, squalor and wretchedness and DEATH.
MAN has proven, through 6,000 years of experience, that he is not capable of governing himself, because man's governments are all based on HUMAN NATURE.
Now, VERY SOON, God will send again Jesus Christ to RESTORE the GOVERNMENT OF GOD, administering that government by enforcing the LAWS of God, which are the CAUSE that will produce the EFFECT of world PEACE, universal prosperity, equality, happiness, abundant well-being for ALL!
This WORK OF GOD proclaims that WAY. It lives that WAY. It teaches that WAY. And those who now follow it are HAPPY! They PROSPER! They find it PAYS OFF! (Armstrong HW. Personal from the Editor. Plain Truth Magazine, April 1968)
7:13-14
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Notice that only a few will enter by the narrow gate, but many go the way of the broad, wide one. There is ONE WAY! In the Continuing Church of God we proclaim that ONE WAY. Sadly, many are too lazy and/or to fearful to go that way. Here is a link to an article and sermon on that way, read What was the Parting from the Way? and/or watch Parting from THE WAY.
Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Matthew the seventh chapter, He said, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate." Now, this is the way He was teaching His own disciples. Was He wrong? This isn't the way we hear it today. As the fellow says, "T'aint the way that I heard it." Well, it isn't the way most of you hear it today. But Jesus said, "Enter in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to..." what? Not to Heaven. He didn't say it leads to Heaven. He said that gate, that way that is easy, that is popular, the way the crowds are going, the way the millions of religious professing people and Christian professing people are going leads to destruction.
Now, He didn't say it led to burning forever and ever either. He never said that, my friends, at any time, contrary to what you probably have believed. Yes, He talked about a Gehenna Fire, which is translated into the English words of hellfire, and erroneously translated, at that. But, He was talking about a kind of fire that destroyed the bodies of animals and even of criminals and of the garbage and other junk and things that were thrown down off that ledge of the valley of Hinnom at the south gate of the city of Jerusalem. It destroyed and burned up all that, that was put in it. Now, here Jesus said it leads to destruction. He didn't say it leads to living in a hellfire burning of screaming torture forever but that it leads to destruction. And He said "many there be" and "many be they that enter in thereby ..."
Now, notice, He didn't say the few are going the wrong way. He said the many are going the wrong way. And always in the teaching of Jesus, always in the prophecies of the Bible, always in the prophecies of the New Testament you find it is the many that are being deceived and you find that among the ministers and the preachers that it is the false prophets that are in the majority and it is the many false prophets. But nowhere, my friends, do you find the many are being really saved, that the many are preaching the Truth, that the many are the true ministers of Jesus Christ. You cannot find that in your Bible. And yet haven't we believed that these many, these popular denominations, that they're all the real true churches of Christ and all these ministers are the true ministers of Jesus Christ. They claim to be.
Well now, you know, you turn over here to second Corinthians, second Corinthians and the eleventh chapter and you read something here but do we believe the Bible when we read it, when we read these prophecies, when we read these warnings, these truths, do we believe them? Or do we think, "Well, it just couldn't be that way." Paul said here, "I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds," he's speaking to the Church now at Corinth, "your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus ..." In other words, the man that comes preaching to you, if the preacher that comes now preaches "another Jesus."
Oh, my friends, do they preach another Jesus today? Have you heard anyone today preach a Jesus that did not agree with His Father's commandments, that try to tell you, "You're not under the Law. Oh, no, the Law is a bad thing. You don't have to obey the Law." And they can take some of these passages of the Apostle Paul whose writings Peter said are hard to be understood which many that are unlearned, wrest or twist and distort as they do also the other scriptures to their own destruction. Have you ever heard a preacher tell you that Jesus nailed His Father's Commandments to the cross, that He did away with the Law, that Law is really bad and give you the impression that God's Law is not good. But the way that seems right to you, do what you want to do, that is the right thing. "God's Word is no good. God's Law is not good. God's Law is bad. Oh my, we don't want that. Why that would be a terrible thing if we were under the Law of God. But Jesus was kind and loving and Jesus did away with His Father's Commandments." Have you ever heard any preaching like that?
Look, that is another Jesus than the one you can read in your Bible.
Yes, many have followed a false message.
Notice something about the teachings of a Roman Catholic called Francis of Assisi and Peter Waldo, a Church of God leader, in the 12th century:
Like St. Francis [of Assisi], Waldo adopted a life of poverty that he might be free to preach, but with this difference that the Waldenses preached the doctrine of Christ while the Franciscans preached the person of Christ. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed.)
Protestants have continued that Roman Catholic practice of focusing more on the person of Christ than on His doctrines and messages. We in the CCOG teach about the person of Jesus, while we focus on His doctrines and messages --like the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
7:15
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
The Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants have had a lot of false prophets--there are even some who claim to be in the Church of God this century (see 21st Century Church of God Prophets).
Jesus said to look at the fruits. Well, the Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant false prophets do not properly teach the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 13:1-4).
Now regarding those that claim to be Church of God prophets, the following is applicable:
21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?' -- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
That eliminates the known self-proclaimed prophets that are outside the Continuing Church of God--for details see 21st Century Church of God Prophets.
So, what are the fruits?
Good trees produce a lot of fruit. Jesus also said:
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit ... (John 15:16)
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. (Mark 4:20)
Deuteronomy 7:13 also refers to people as the fruit of the womb, as does Psalm 127:3.
If fruits can be defined as people in the Church of God, then CCOG has those.
Anyway, the only x-WCG group to add over 9,000 congregants in the past thirteen years is the Continuing Church of God which began with 5 people on December 28, 2012.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, KJV)
The Apostle John added "test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1).
Have you proven ALL THINGS related to a prophet? Or are you more like one who despises the idea that God really has one or more prophets in place today?
According to the Bible, you should prove these matters.
Although Jesus gave many signs (John 2:11; 6:2, 26; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37), the people apparently wanted different ones:
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37-38)
Jesus denounced those who wanted different signs from Him (Matthew 12:38-39). Non-Philadelphians are unwilling to accept God’s signs–that’s the biblical reality. God does not always show signs the way many seem to think He has to.
What about predictions that have come to pass? Notice the following:
Coincidences or Divine Intervention?
CategoryEvent
Fulfillment
Prediction
During late August 2008, Bob Thiel told LCG minister Davy Crocket that unless evangelists would implement certain matters that God was about to strike a top LCG leader with something.
LCG’s top evangelist, Roderick C. Meredith, suffered a ministroke on September 19, 2008.
Prayer
On February 4, 2009, Dr. Meredith asked Bob Thiel to pray that he would live another 7 – 15 years, so Bob Thiel did.
Dr. Meredith died on May 18, 2017–a little over 8 years after that prayer.
Predictions
In July 2009, Bob Thiel’s book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect went to press.
By December 22, 2012, 32 predictions in that book were at least partially fulfilled. For details, go to https://www.cogwriter.com/Confirmed2012BookEvents.htm
Possible Divine Intervention
During the Feast of Tabernacles in October 2009, an odd feeling came over Bob Thiel that pointed to looking to see if the beginning of sorrows may have began.
After researching and finding that events consistent with the ride of the 1st horseman occurred, Bob Thiel telephoned Dr. Roderick C. Meredith and told him. While his church had taught that the beginning of sorrows had not begun prior to that, it taught shortly after that telephone call that it had begun.
Speculative
PredictionOn June 24, 2010, Bob Thiel warned that “Certain biblical, Chinese, and other prophecies…discuss that how Australia itself may become taken over. By virtue of her timing, Julia Gillard may inadvertently pursue policies that will lead to the fulfillment of various end time prophecies.”
On November 10, 2011, because an agreement with Julia Gillard, US troops were stationed in Darwin, Australia, and by November 18, 2011 China pointed to this as a reason to consider military action against Australia.
Speculative
PredictionsFrom 2010 to 2015, Bob Thiel made and/or posted speculative predictions related to Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
He also made others since.
By late 2017, 7-11 predictions (depending on how they are included) related to Herr Guttenberg were at least partially fulfilled. For details, go to https://www.cogwriter.com/karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-king-of-the-north.htm
A speculative prediction in 2022 was confirmed in 2023. For details go to: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-is-to-become-a-media-brand/
Prayer
Although told by two LCG ministers (Dr. Jeff Fall and Gary Ehman) in the late Fall of 2011 that he did not need to have hands laid on him to be a prophet, Bob Thiel prayed that something would happen related to his ‘prophet’ situation in a planned December 2011 trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.
On December 15, 2011, Gaylyn Bonjour anointed Bob Thiel and prayed that he be granted a double-portion of God’s Spirit. Gaylyn Bonjour said this was reminiscent of the passing of the mantle, that he realized what he may have unintentionally did, and that what he did could not be undone. This answered Bob Thiel’s prayer.
Gaylyn Bonjour also confirmed on November 28, 2019 his belief that his prayer was answered.
Prayer
On December 16, 2011, Richard Ames prayed that Bob Thiel would continue his evangelical/prophetic efforts and LCG evangelists Dr. Meredith and Dr. D. Winnail gave Amen concurrence–as did Bob Thiel.
Bob Thiel has continued evangelical/prophetic efforts and has been the human leader of the fastest growing COG group in the 21st century, known as the Continuing Church of God. These show the fruits of a true prophet, consistent with Jesus’ criteria in John 7:15-20.
Prediction
On December 19, 2011, Bob Thiel tried to meet with Dr. Meredith to tell him that it seemed God was telling him that his wife Sheryl was about to be struck with something serious.
In Dr. Meredith’s letter dated 1/12/12, he reported that his wife Sheryl (who was much younger than he) was stricken with stage four cancer. She later died on November 29, 2013.
Speculation
On May 12, 2013, I warned in an online post about the threat of new coronaviruses and speculated that “novel” diseases could be a threat.
In 2019, a “novel coronavirus,” later renamed COVID-19 emerged and devastated peace and normalcy around the world. In 2020, I tied that in with the possibly start of the ride of the 2nd horseman of the Apocalypse.
Prediction
On December 5, 2013, Bob Thiel posted that governments, particularly in Europe, would one day not allow cryptocurrencies like BitCoin to be private and unregulated.
In late November 2021, the European Union released a paper called “Proposal for EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets.” On December 7, 2022, the EU passed rules to rules that are to “be extended to the entire crypto sector, obliging all crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to” eliminate the possibility of privacy through various customer “due diligence” requirements.
Prediction
In a book published on January 19, 2017, Bob Thiel listed many predictions related to the upcoming Donald Trump presidency. Plus he published others at cogwriter.com
By mid 2019, events aligned with at least 19 predictions related to the Trump Administration. For details go to https://www.cogwriter.com/donald-trump-prophecy.htm
Prediction
In 2013, in an article about the future of Ukraine and Russia, Bob Thiel said that at least part of the territory in Ukraine would support Russia.
On March 18, 2014, Russia officially annexed Crimea.
Prediction
Bob Thiel specifically warned about risks associated with the coronavirus in 2013 (see Coronavirus: A new risk for humans? and Saudi Arabia warning visitors to Mecca about coronavirus risk) and 2014 (see Saudi Arabia, MERS, and Missiles and Infection-gate: A dangerous scandal hitting the USA?). Additionally, he also warned also about human engineered pathogens without mentioning the coronavirus in 2018 (see DARPA to weaponize insects to spread viruses across the population… sinister plans exposed by team of scientists) and 2019 (see DARPA: ‘Militarized Microbes’ To Spread GMO Bacteria).
A novel coronavirus hit China in late 2019 and resulted in a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Many believe it was a human-engineered virus.
Prediction
On March 18, 2019, Bob Thiel posted: It remains my view that Crimea and at least parts of eastern Ukraine will ultimately align with Russia. International sanctions will not stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled.
Sanctions did not stop Russia.
Prediction
On May 28, 2019, Bob Thiel posted that the UK would lose the Chagos Islands (see UK closer to losing Chagos Islands–it will happen).
On October 3, 2024, the UK agreed to give them up to Mauritius (see UK to give up Chagos islands, including Diego Garcia, confirming prediction from COGwriter).
Prediction
On February 22, 2022, two days before Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine began, Bob Thiel posted: I expect that Donetsk and Luhansk will either be annexed by Russia and/or join its Eurasian Economic Union.
On September 30, 2022, Russia formally annexed Donetsk and Luhansk.
Predictions
In a book printed on January 21, 2021, titled, Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction, Bob Thiel had various warnings, predictions, and speculations of what would occur during the Biden-Harris Administration.
By August 22, 2024, there were at least partial fulfillments of at least 20 warnings, predictions, and one speculation. Details can be found in the online article: Joe Biden- Kamala Harris Administration fulfilling 20 warnings/predictions/speculation in the 2021 book ‘Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction’.
Prediction
In a book printed in July 2023 titled,
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?, Bob Thiel had the following statement on page 293 of the print edition and page 317 of online version of my book is the following statement:
Gold will set records in U.S. dollar terms.
According to CNBC, this happened on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Then CNN reported it also occurred on Monday December 5, 2023. https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/as-predicted-gold-hits-an-all-time-high-against-the-usa-dollar/
Gold also hit record prices in U.S. dollar terms several times in 2024 and 2025
Prediction
On November 6, 2024 (https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/media-declares-donald-trump-won-the-election-now-what/), Bob Thiel wrote, “According to the major media, Donald Trump won re-election. … Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally, such as being more motivated to approve the trade deal with the Mercosur block of South America.”
On December 6, 2024, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sealed the trade deal with the Mercosur block.
Prediction
On November 26, 2024 (https://www.cogwriter.com/news/2024/11/page/2/ ), Bob Thiel wrote, “If the EU-Mercosur deal is approved, there will be protests in parts of Europe.”
In December 2024, there were (e.g. https://www.brusselstimes.com/1347314/farmers-protest-outside-eu-parliament-denounces-mercosur-deal).
Prediction
On December 27, 2024, Bob Thiel again posted: “Gold will break records in US dollar terms.”
By early September 2025, gold set daily
price records in US dollar terms at least
31 times (see https://www.bullionvault.com/gold-news/gold-price-news/gold-3600-dollar-tariffs-090820251).Predictions
Since my book, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, published January 16, 2025, came out, world events have begun to align with at least 14 predictions in it.
For details go to https://www.cogwriter.com/donald-trump-prophecy.htm
Clearly the above are not all coincidental nor the only result of analytical news skills and biblical knowledge, particularly on those that were related to the health of Dr. Roderick and Sheryl Meredith.
If fruits include restored doctrinal and prophetic truths (see Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things), since CCOG formed, it has produced the most fruit that way.
Consider that restoration of truth was a reason that the old WCG taught that Philadelphia was raised up to do:
This Philadelphia era has been raised up to do the work of Elijah in preparation of "restoring all things" (Matt. 17:11). (Waterhouse G. Enlist in the Army of God. Good News, June-July 1979)
We in the Continuing Church of God have been restoring all things. No other groups has restored so much in the 21st century. The CCOG possesses the Philadelphian mantle (see Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle).
Furthermore, notice something else Herbert Armstrong wrote:
In these last days, according to biblical prophecy, knowledge, spiritual as well as material, was to be increased. The true Church of God was to be set back on the track, restoring the glorious knowledge of the faith once delivered to the saints in the days of the original apostles. (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages, 1985)
Notice Herbert Armstrong believed that knowledge of church history--knowledge of the faith once delivered to the saints in the days of the original apostles-- and spiritual knowledge (which would included, for example, dreams and prophecies from God) would need to be increased in the last days–this has happened in the CCOG more than any other COG in the 21st century!
Here is proof related to "knowledge of the faith once delivered to the saints in the days of the original apostles":
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism
Here is proof of the fruits of Divine spiritual confirmation: Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?
As far as other fruits go, Deuteronomy 18:21-22 stated, if a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, he must be right or he is not from God.
But it is not just enough that the prophet be right not to be false. Notice also the following:
1"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' — which you have not known — 'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4)
So, if the prophet does not keep and advocate keeping God's commandments, he is also false.
Thus, another fruit of a true prophet is that he advocates that people keep God's commandments.
We have a book that I wrote on that titled: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.
The Bible reported that Elijah was a prophet (1 Kings 18:22). Jesus said in the last days, a coming Elijah would "restore all things" (Matthew 17:11). More things have been restored in the CCOG than other other church in the 21st century. For a list, check out the article: Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.
28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth." (Romans 9:28)
Unlike Paul's statement about the fulness of the Gentiles, we see that only a remnant of Israel will be saved in this age.
But we also see hints that there will be a 'short work.'
Here is something Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in a letter dated September 17, 1982:
It is written in Romans 9, concerning this very END TIME, "For he (Christ) will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (verse 28).
While we were not in the very end time then, we are much closer to it now. In a letter dated October 18, 1983 he wrote that he realized that the 'short work' was for the future:
I feel God will move swiftly soon to make a short work preparatory to Christ's coming.
The short work most definitely involves preparation now (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word). And an important part of the short work relates to the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, which, in a sense, is cut short as it triggers the end coming:
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
We in the CCOG have been working on the fulfillment of that. This is part of why more materials, literature, articles, books, booklets, and websites are being developed and/or added to. That is basically the purpose of our literature as well as getting our English language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, translated into hundreds of languages–we seem to have been the only COG to do that (see also Preaching the Gospel in Multiple Languages).
The Apostle Paul wrote:
13 ... I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. (Romans 1:13)
So, Gentiles being called is a fruit for the Apostle Paul, who was also a prophet that had visions (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:1) and who wrote prophecies (e.g. 2 Thessalonians 2; see also 2 Peter 1:19-21).
He also said warned he warned Christians night and day about false leaders and false doctrine while teaching God's ways:
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:27-31)
That is, in several ways, similar to the COGwriter Church of God News site which has articles day and night on doctrine, prophecy, and warning about false teachers.
7:21
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Notice that MANY will think that they were real Christians, and even repeatedly called Jesus, Lord. And even if they cast out demons in Jesus' name and performed wonders in His name, they will not be acceptable to Jesus.
These are essentially all the non-Church of God people who claim Christianity.
These are those whose leaders "parted from THE WAY. Here is a link to an article and sermon on that: read What was the Parting from the Way? and/or watch Parting from THE WAY.
7:24
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Notice that Jesus says that if you hear His sayings and DO THEM, you are wise and have the proper foundation. We have had sermons covering every saying that Jesus is recorded as speaking in the entire New Testament (see Going Thru the Bible). Plus we have this article related to the sayings of Jesus given on the Mount.
Those whose faith is more on traditions of men, which is basically what the non-Church of God faiths which claim Christianity, are setting themselves up for a fall.
To aid people know the true WAY from the changed ways, we have the following:
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Seventh Day Baptists are Protestant, not Church of God This article explains reasons why Baptists, include seventh day ones (SDBs) do not have the historical and doctrinal ties to the original church that many have claimed. Here are two related sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History.
Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Naciones Musulmanas en la profecía Bíblica.
7:28
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
There was a difference in the message as well as the speaking style of Jesus.
If you truly accept His authority and will live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4), you will even better understand the messages He gave on the Mount.
Thiel B. Exploring the Sermon on the Mount: Insights from Matthew 5-7 and Beyond. https://www.cogwriter.com/matthew-sermon-mount.htm COGwriter (c) 2025 1122