When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him about his servant who was paralyzed. Note: Jesus has just got there…hasn’t had time to even settle in yet.

Jesus’ response is to ask the centurion if he would like for Him to go and heal his servant. Jesus is so awesome…tired from the travel, not even settled in, offers to go to this man’s home and heal his servant.

The centurion goes on to say that he is not worthy to have Jesus in his home, but knows that if Jesus would just say the word his servant would be healed. He compares it to the men who serve under him. He speaks and they follow his orders.

Scripture says Jesus was amazed at this man’s faith. In fact, Jesus goes so far to say He couldn’t find faith anywhere else like this in all of Israel. Jesus then declares that many will inherit the Kingdom of God from all around, but many in Israel will find themselves suffering in the darkness over their lack of faith.

Jesus’ response is to heal the servant and He sent the centurion home.

Jesus points out the man’s faith in His healing power. He uses this as a teaching moment as well to show people how important faith is. Where is your faith? We aren’t just talking about believing in something…we are talking about believing in something so much it calls you to action. Having faith in Jesus is to live it out every single day. To go into battle and fight against the powers of this world. So again I ask…how is your faith? Would Jesus be amazed at your faith, or more disappointed in your lack of faith?

When Jesus has finished speaking and comes down off the mountainside, a large group follows Him. In this crowd is a man who is suffering from leprosy (which is just the term for a skin disease). He approaches Jesus and tells Him that if He is willing He can make the man clean.

Jesus’ response is to touch the man and tel him that He is willing. He then tells the man not to tell anyone what has happened but to show the priest and offer the sacrifice so that he can get back to normalcy.

I find it interesting that the man asked Jesus if He was willing. That’s a foreign concept for you and I because we know the sacrifice that Jesus underwent for our healing. I think sometimes, however, we forget His willingness to be there for us. We get down on ourselves, we think we are too far gone, we think we don’t measure up, etc. Jesus was willing to go to the cross for you…never forget that. You were worth the cross to Him. That’s something to hold onto.

Jesus finishes up His sermon on the mount by saying if you hear these words and put them into practice you are like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. When the rains and wind come, the house does not fall. However, if you hear these words and choose not to put them into practice, you are like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. The rains and wind come, and the house falls.

Why? When we are obedient to His word, we are living on a solid foundation. When the storms of life come, we can remain upright. Not because of who we are, but because of who our foundation is built on. There is a hymn that is often sung that says it this way, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” Your life should be built on the foundation of Christ.

It finishes up by saying the people were amazed at how He taught with such authority. This was much different than the other teachers of the law.

This was just the beginning. Jesus wasn’t here just to teach casually like all of the other teachers of the law. He was on a rescue mission. Thank goodness He was.

This could possibly be the scariest passage of scripture that there is. Jesus proclaims that there will be many who say to Him Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, He says that many will say on that day that they drove out demons in His name, prophesied in His name, etc. and He will say to them I never knew you…away from me you evildoer. Jesus says the only one’s who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven will be those who do the will of God in Heaven.

Basically what Jesus is saying here is that we can’t just claim to follow Jesus and be saved. We can’t just attend church, go through the motions, and expect that to be enough. Jesus expects all or nothing from us…that’s not my words but His. Today, examine your heart. Are you all in? If not, on that day, Jesus will say to you I never knew you…away from me you evildoer.

Jesus warns to watch out for false prophets. He says they are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. The way to recognize them is by their fruit. He compares them to fruit-bearing trees. A good tree won’t and cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree won’t and cannot produce good fruit. In fact, every bad tree will be cut off and thrown into the fire. One last time Jesus says that by their fruit you will recognize them.

Words are easy to say…it’s following those words with action that is the most difficult. Many leaders may be able to speak a good word, but does their life back it up? Can you see the result of their teaching in their life? In other words, can you believe what they are saying because you know they are genuine? Or does it feel more like they’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Strong words for teachers to live by.

But this doesn’t just apply to those in leadership and teaching positions…it goes for everyone. Tomorrow we will see that Jesus is about to open up this teaching to all disciples. But it’s worth noting that you should be able to believe the words of those who teach and lead because of their actions both in public and behind the scenes.

Jesus says wife is the gate and broad the road that leads to destruction. He then says small is the gate and narrow is the path the leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus never promised the life of following Him would be easy. The broad path and wide gate looks so much easier to take on…but Jesus has called us to the narrow path with the small gate. The narrow path may seem more difficult, but the destination is worth the journey. Don’t you want to be part of the few? I know I do. The narrow path is everything we have discussed up to this point and everything we will discuss hereafter. Not worrying, not judging, storing up treasures in heaven, loving your enemies, etc.

The choice is yours…which path will you choose?

Jesus says to ask and you will receive…He says to seek and you will find…and He says to those who knock the door will be open.

He then goes on to say if a father knows how to give good gifts to his son, how much more will your Heavenly Father give you what you need? A father is not going to gift his son a rock or a scorpion if his son asks for bread or fish. Then Jesus says so in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you because this sums up the law and the prophets.

Basically, Jesus knew that if we were worried about making sure we had our needs we would never do to someone else what we would want someone to do for us. We would never give generously…we would never act selflessly…we would never lift up another because we would be too focused on meeting our own needs. Jesus reminds us that God is MORE THAN CAPABLE of providing your needs…and HE WILL! So ask Him, and then trust you can love one another because He is taking care of your needs.

Jesus says that we should not judge another. If we do judge another, we also will be judged. On top of that, the measure we used to judge another will be the same measure used to judge us.

Then Jesus gives an interesting illustration. He says why are you judging the speck of sawdust in another’s eye when you have a plank in your own? He says that in order to help remove the speck of sawdust from someone else’s eye, www must first remove the plank from our own.

To me, this is something we do far too often. We dress nice, we post only the good stuff on social media, and we make sure everyone see’s our best. The problem is when we do this, we overlook the sin issues in our life. When we do this, we are so quick to judge another because we are comfortable in believing that everyone else is seeing our best. But God sees the great big sin issue…and He says to take care of it. He says stop judging, and start repenting. Maybe we all could do better at not looking around with “judging eyes.”

Jesus finishes up this section by saying don’t give a dog what is sacred or a pig your pearls. They will trample them under foot and then tear you to pieces as well.

What is Jesus talking about here? He is warning His disciples to be cautious before presenting the truth to someone. Understand who it is you’re speaking to. Speak the truth about the speck of sawdust in love and understand who it is you’re speaking to. Not everyone will respond the same way. We must earn the right to speak truth in love. WOW!

Jesus says do not worry about your food, drink, or clothes. Look at the birds…does God not give them everything that they need? How much more then will He feed you? Worry WILL NOT add a single hour to your life…there is literally no benefit to worry.

He goes to say look at the flowers…see how God clothes them. Will He not even more so clothe you? He says do not worry because that’s what the pagans do. What we are supposed to do is keep the Kingdom of God and righteousness first, knowing that we will have what we need. Do not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough trouble of it’s own.

It comes down to trust. God wants us to trust that He will come through exactly as He said He would and HAS. When we worry…all we are doing is telling God that trusting in Him is not enough. We need more to make us feel comfortable and content. We need to stop worrying about the things of this world and remind ourselves of the hope we have in Jesus…knowing God will provide all that we need if we are living for Him. The worrying stops today!

Jesus changes course just a little and speaks about the things we chase after. He says not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth where it can be destroyed or stolen and ultimately will not last. Instead, we should store up treasures in heaven that cannot be destroyed or stolen and will last for eternity. All of this today that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your heart? If someone looked at your bank account what would they say is important to you? If someone were to follow your steps for a day what would they say is important to you? Where does God fall in line with you?

Jesus goes on by saying that our eyes are the lamp of our bodies. If our eyes are healthy (Greek meaning: generous) than our bodies will be full of light. If our eyes are unhealthy (Greek meaning: stingy) than our bodies will be full of darkness. What we do with what we have is important for our overall life.

Jesus finishes up this section by proclaiming that we cannot serve two masters because we will love one and hate the other. We cannot serve both God and money. Jesus knew that money would be a struggle for all us.

Money can be a god. Don’t let it be. Jesus says if we are generous…it effects our whole body. On the other side though, if we are stingy it also effects our whole body. I don’t know about you…but I want to live in the light, not the darkness.