How can my relationship with others grow?

Week 3 of the series, Questions: Honest Answers to tough issues, was

"how can my relationship with others grow?"

Matthew 5:17-26

The Fulfillment of the Law

    ¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

    ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.    ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
   ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

 

Foundation Principles of Matthew 5

1. Jesus fulfilled the law and prophets 

Matthew 5:17-20

2. Jesus raised the bar 

Matthew 5:21-22

-Action is not the only factor

-the heart matters just as much

- JESUS IS CONCERNED WITH YOUR HEART

What is Jesus concerned with?

- He is concerned with anger and unforgivness that leads to ruined relationships

( bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die)

How can my relationship with others grow?

reconciliation - forgive forgive forgive

Matt 5: 23-26

1. make reconciliation  a priority

2. be the one who initaties reconciliation

3. reconcile  quickly

Eph 4:26-27

²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.

Nick challenged us to not go to bed at night until we reconcile our broken relationships.We are suppose to initiate it even if it is hard. We are prideful, I know I am  and this is hard but knowing you are being pleasing to God is worth it.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.