Day 7

Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:46–48

Jesus does a little comparison for the people He taught and for us today. Jesus said in Matthew 5:46–48, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus used the “tax collectors” as His example of loving those who love them. Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were not liked at all by the Jews. The tax collector's job was to gather taxes for the Roman government, but most tax collectors would collect more than they were supposed to collect to make themselves rich. So, the Jews knew they were thieves and despised them. So, when Jesus used them as His example, He let the people know that the way they loved others must not be like the tax collectors. As we have seen all week, Jesus calls us to go beyond what this lost world does regarding loving and serving others. Then, Jesus said it’s about being perfect because our Heavenly Father is perfect. We can’t master perfection without Christ as our Lord and His Holy Spirit living in us. But with His Holy Spirit, we have all we need (2 Peter 1:3–9) to live as He has commanded (Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 18:13, 2 Corinthians 7:1, and Philippians 3:12–15). We must choose to live His way and not ours.

Challenge & Application

· What will it look like for you to start loving as Jesus has commanded? · What are some things you must do to begin to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?”

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

As we start in Matthew 5:38, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’” Many people today still want to practice the Law when it comes to getting revenge on someone who has hurt them. Jesus quotes from Exodus 21:22–25, Leviticus 24:19–23, and Deuteronomy 19:17–21 as He shares in Matthew 5:38. ...

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Day 2

When Jesus quoted from God the Father’s Law, everyone listening would have known it well also. But then Jesus said this in Matthew 5:39, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Jesus said something that was radical to almost everyone listening to Him that day and...

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Day 3

Jesus came to radically change everyone’s life, so it’s no surprise that His Truth is radical compared to what this lost world teaches. So that there is no misunderstanding about yesterday’s devotion, Jesus was not teaching that His followers would never stand against evil. Jesus gave us a perfect example when He overturned the tables in the ...

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Day 4

Jesus always wants us to show people His love by going beyond what anyone expects, because if we only do what people expect then we’re doing what everyone else would do. Jesus said in Matthew 5:41–42, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you...

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Day 5

Jesus came to set people free from their bondage to sin. One of the sins the religious leaders committed in the days of Christ was that they would misinterpret God’s Law and even add to it. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:43, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” When people first read this...

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Day 6

Jesus desires that our lives look much different than the world in which we live. As we saw in yesterday's devotion, it was the religious leaders/teachers who had added their take on God's Word. But Jesus demolished their lies and said in Matthew 5:44–45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that yo...

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Day 7

Jesus does a little comparison for the people He taught and for us today. Jesus said in Matthew 5:46–48, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are t...

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