Matthew 2:1-12
The Anticipation of the Messiah
Matthew 2:13-23
Flight to Egypt
Matthew 3:1-6
The Preparation of The Messiah
Matthew 3:7-12
The Pharisees and Sadducees
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11
Three Major Tests
Matthew 4:12-17
Persecution of Followers
Matthew 4:18-25
Ministry in the Synagogues
Matthew 5:1-12
Sermon on The Mount
Matthew 5:13-20
Fishing For Men
Matthew 5:21-26
Anger is Murder in The Heart
Matthew 5:27-32
Divorce And Remarriage
Matthew 5:33-42
Unfair and Unreasonable Treatment
Matthew 5:43-48
Love Your Enemies
Matthew 6:5-18
Practice of Prayer
Matthew 6:19-24
The Love of Wealth
Matthew 7:1-6
Judging And Hypocrisy
Matthew 7:13-23
A Professing Christian vs a True Christian
Matthew 7:24-29
Building on the Right Foundation
Matthew 8:1-17
Healing Miracles of Christ
Fishing For Men
Matthew 5:13–20
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To demonstrate the influence Christians should make on this world Jesus used two common illustrations of salt and light. G. Campbell Morgan once said “The world needs salt because it is corrupt and it needs light because it is dark. We are God’s salt to retard corruption and … More
The ultimate purpose for following Jesus is to become fishers of men. God loves people, and He wants us to draw as many as we can to Him; it is not His will that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). But how will He make us effective fishermen? The answer is found in an understanding of fishing methods of Christ’s day. Peter and Nathaniel were fishing with nets during the day. That is when Jesus called them. However, James and John were mending their nets, indicating that they fished at night, which can be far more effective. God’s way to fish is to attract people with being like salt for everyone on earth (v. 13). Then Christ’s light in us can then draw them in with nets of love. It is for the purpose of drawing people to Christ that Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world” (v. 14) and Paul wrote, “walk as children of light“ (Eph. 5:8).
The intensity of the brightness of our light is directly proportional to our meditation day and night, because Scripture itself is light. When it becomes a living part of our lives, we increase our brightness. “The entrance of thy words giveth light“ (Psalm 119:130) and “...it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (v. 15). It is especially significant that God relates His commandments to the function of light: “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8). At night, the fishermen in Jesus’ day suspended lamps out from the boat and attracted fish to the light. Scripture states that the word of God is a “lamp” and a “light“ (Psalm 119:105). Let’s turn up our light (v. 16) by intensifying our meditation day and night! Jesus said that He had come to fulfill the law (v. 17). Where the law had degenerated into legalism by the Pharisees, Jesus takes the law beyond outward observance and shows the real inner spiritual intention of God. Heaven and earth must disappear (v. 18); we will become the least important (v. 19) but we must obey God (v. 20).
Application
Is my light bright enough to attract others to Christ, and do I have enough love to draw them in?
Matthew 5:13-20 (English Standard Version)
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