Matthew 5-7 contains the longest of Jesus’ collected teachings. Within it are some of the most well-known and quoted passages not just from Jesus’ life, or the bible, but in all of religious history. Not only is it the most well-known and quoted, but it is often the most misunderstood. In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry begins with him preaching the “good news (or the gospel) of the kingdom.” It is here in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus describes what life in this kingdom is like, how those who are a part of this kingdom of heaven should and can live. Jesus challenges our fundamental assumptions of happiness, righteousness, love, anger, obedience, and so much more. By this Jesus describes a kingdom in which true happiness, true righteousness, true obedience, true love can be a reality for us, on earth “As it is in Heaven.”

This week's message, by Brent Cummings, is on Matthew 7:1-12. This passage contains two of the most well-known sayings of Jesus, sayings in which most of the world around us would agree with, whether they follow Jesus or not. Within this passage are Jesus' teaching on comparison, prayer, and loving others as yourself. While at first glance, these seem to be separate, they are joined together by one thing: faith in God as Father. Brent shows us that faith in God enables these 3 realities to be true in our lives. Faith in the Lord kills comparison, fuels prayer, and leads to love for neighbor.

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