“Remember that it is a blessing Loved One when you are condemned and persecuted. When self-centered, self-focused people say all kinds of twisted lies against you because you know you are Mine. When that happens, Loved One, rejoice and get excited, for your reward in heaven will be absolutely awesome! Don’t forget that they persecuted the prophets who were before you, too.”
” Loved One, you are the salt of the earth, improving it and making it better. However, if you reject my personal calling for you and lose My flavor, you can’t be made edible again. You would then be only good for being thrown out and trampled underfoot by other people.”
” Loved One, you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket. I lit you, Loved One, and put you on a very tall lamppost so that you would give light to everyone around you. That is why, Loved One, you need to let your light shine before people! When they see your good works Loved One, and realize that you could not have done them on your own, they will glorify your Father in heaven.”
“Do not think that Jesus came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. He did not come to destroy but to fulfill what was said about His first coming. For assuredly, I say to you, Loved One, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter will pass from the law, not until all of it is fulfilled.” Loved One, if you reject anything that I have told you, and teach others to do the same, you shall be called one of the least in the kingdom of heaven. If you do accept what I tell you, even in person, then you, Loved One, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Trust Me!”
“Let me make it clear, Loved One, unless your personal righteousness far exceeds the so-called righteousness of the Bible translators and Bible teachers, Loved One, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
“You have heard Loved One, ‘Don’t murder because you will be in danger of the judgment.’ However, I am telling you, even being angry with another person is just as bad. Confess it, and apologize to them and Me. When you call another person, “idiot” or any other strong, negative name. You shall be in danger of the same consequences. Confess it, apologize to them and Me or be in danger of hellfire.” So, Loved One, if you bring a gift to Me, and I remind you that made a mistake with another person, fix it. leave your gift at the altar, and first settle with them, then come and offer Me your gift. Don’t try to use self-righteousness or Me Loved One as an excuse to not meet your responsibilities to others! Whenever you owe another person, Loved One, take care of that debt as soon as you can. If they demand the money, and you won’t pay, they will take you to court. The judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and you be thrown into prison. I say to you, Loved One, you will not get out of there till you have paid the last penny of what you owe. Staying in debt is not worth the risk, and it is not responsible.”
” Loved One, you’ve heard, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ However, I say to you Loved One, that whenever you look at someone with lust in your heart, you have already committed adultery with them in both your eyes and God’s! So, listen carefully to this. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose your guilty eye than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Going further, Loved One, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Again, it is better for you to lose your guilty hand than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
“You have also heard, or read, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ I say to you Loved One, that if you divorce your spouse for any reason except their adultery, you cause them to commit adultery. And if you marry someone who divorces at the drop of a hat like that, you also commit adultery. Keep your vows to do your best.”
“Loved One, you have heard, ‘Don’t make false promises to God, but perform your oaths to the Lord.’ I say to you, Loved One, don’t promise at all. Not by heaven, because it is God’s throne. Not by anything here on earth, because it is His footstool. Don’t use Jerusalem, for it is His city. Don’t even promise, Loved One, by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Be honest and trustworthy! Don’t use My name as if I were a notary, because that is warped.”
Matthew 5:11-37, NAPSV
