“And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.”
First, it is better to lose anything than your soul. Our soul is the only and most valuable possession that we have. The soul will be punished or BLESSED eternally, and you and I get one shot at this life.
No matter the cost, no matter the sin, and no matter the claims of Jesus Christ, it is BETTER to believe the gospel of grace unto good works than to destroy the law and the prophets, preaching a false christ who can’t save – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17). He fulfills the law in and for us, causing us to love, which is what the law taught the whole time. By His death for us, we receive the Spirit by faith, whereby we walk as commanded, letting our light shine unto the world. Scripture says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt 5:16).
We do everything so that people can see God’s grace and the goodness that He has to sinners. We want people to see His love, so we praise Him, loving people. Preaching and ministry is not to be seen; it is so that sinners can see. Likewise, we are blessed to see His people that we’ve helped walking in the truth, people that we’ve prayed for, loved, and brought to Christ, people dear unto us – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (III John 1:4).
Secondly, Christ says, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”, so that obedience to Christ reveals people that God’s blessed to be followed (Matt 5:19-20). It is required in stewards that a man be found faithfulness, and faithfulness is the most important thing a child of God can have. Not only has Christ NOT come to destroy the law and the prophets, but He so values obedience that He makes it beautiful to us; we admire with God given love the beauty of obedience to Christ.
Blessed be the Lord that His commandments are good. He causes us to love rather than hate, and He makes help rather than judge.
If you and I hate others, looking down our noses, then we’re in disobedience, revealing our hell-deservedness. But, being CLEANSED of this hypocritical evil, God gives us love for those we hated, so we can pray for and live for our friends and foes – “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has aught against you; leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your bother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt 5:22-24). We love each other, dealing with each other through Jesus Christ, even as we deal with God. I cannot present His Son to the Father and say, “For Christ’s sake”, when I deal with you after your sins. I must deal with God and man in Christ Jesus, loving those that I’ve offended and who have offended me.
By forgiveness, Christ enables us to love our brethren, and now, all that He has, He gives.
God is glorious to save, and His salvation is unto love. Make sure, at all costs, that you get what God gives, rather than something contrary to the scriptures – “And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell” (Matt 5:30). The Sermon on the Mount is for now; it is to be lived as much as any other teaching of Christ. Get this from God, so that you can be saved, and don’t hesitate because of your sin. Don’t let your past or present weakness stop you from obedience. God is with you now in Christ, giving you all freely because Christ SATISFIED God for all that believe.
Lastly, if we believe, then we have God’s salvation. Call upon God to perform it, trust Him for it, and experience the joy. John refused to baptize Jesus until he saw the Lord’s glory and command. Then, upon obedience, the Lord “when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:16-17). John got evidence from God on top of the evidence that caused his obedience. Like Abraham, he got assurance, joy, and peace as the reward of obeying God, as Christ in His glory was revealed even more!
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