Bible Matters 494: Matthew Gospel of Love

There was no hesitation by Matthew to accept Jesus’s offer when Jesus said unto him, “Follow me.”  Matthew was a tax collector and dealt with money daily.   He didn’t look back once he decided to follow Jesus. 

Matthew 9:9 – And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew recorded the greatest number of miracles that Jesus performed. There is no doubt that Matthew was one of God’s dedicated historians that effectively captured God’s gospel of Love.   

Let’s review Matthew’s testimony on God’s gospel of Love. 

• Believe in one God – When you believe in God, you believe in the scriptures.  With God all things are possible.

Matthew 4:7,10 – Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 10:32 – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 19:26 – But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 22:29 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

• Repent of your sins and surrender to God – Your walk with God begins when you turn from your sinful past and do the will of God.   

Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 27:3 – Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Matthew 18:3-4 – And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Like the preaching of Jonah, you will be judged by God.  God requires you to turn from sin.

Matthew 12:41 – The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Jonah 3:5 – So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

• Judge no one – Judge your pure walk against God’s word.  Do not assume righteousness by comparing your walk against another.

Matthew 7:1-4 – Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.   And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

• Love God – Pray, do good and turn from sin.  Your good works will be your testimony.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 6:6 – But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 7:21 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 22:37,38,40 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

• Love your Neighbor –

Matthew 5:43-44 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 19:19 – Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Matthew 22:39,40 – And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

• Doeth the will of God unto eternal life.  Heaven is real, so make sure you prepare for it with a walk serving God and neighbor.   

Matthew 8:11 – And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13-14 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When you love God, you follow the Gospel that Jesus brought to this earth.  Discard your old sinful life and live your life for the glory of God.  Peter presented Jesus small talk.  Jesus told Peter to get behind him Satan.  God doesn’t want your talk.  He wants your service!

Matthew 5:8-9,20 – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 16:21-25 – From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it

Believe that God has a plan for you.  Have faith and worship only God.  Do not let any man, any church or any church leader, lead you into believing the Jesus did it all and you do not have to show your faith by doing God’s will.  Do not be deceived.  God is looking for you to go live God’s gospel of Love.    

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.