Page 6 - Of Course You Can Walk On Water - eBook

were extremely careful in their prayers, their reading of the Sacred Oracles, and their
Sabbathkeeping. So anxious were they not to desecrate the Sabbath that they had a list of
thirty-nine forbidden activities to safeguard the day. To the common man, the Pharisee
was assured of a place in paradise.

What a shock it must have been, then, to the crowd gathered around Jesus on the Mount
of Blessing, to hear Him state, "'Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and

Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven'" (Matt. 5:20).

The Pharisees were concerned with outward things. Jesus went deep.

"'I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment'"

(verse 22).

"It is a sin ... to feel angry" (Child Guidance, p. 95)-selfish, vindictive anger springing
from bitterness and animosity.

"'Everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his
heart'" (verse 28).

" 'You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
But 1 say to you, Love your enemies'" (verses 43, 44). Love your enemies!

"He who does not love [even his enemies] does not know God; for God is love" (1 John
4:8).

What is this love? What are its characteristics? How does it work?

"Love is patient, love is kind, love knows no jealousy, love is never boastful. Love puts
on no airs, never acts dishonorably, never places her own interests first, and never loses
her temper. Love never imputes evil motives, never feels glad when others go wrong, but
rejoices in everything that is right and true. Love conceals the faults of others, always
believes the best, never despairs, and remains steadfast to the end" (1 Cor. 13:4-7, F. F.
Bruce, An Expanded Paraphrase of the Epistles of Paul, p. 107).

"The law of God takes note of the jealousy, envy, hatred, malignity, revenge, lust, and

ambition that surge through the soul, but have not found expression in outward action,
because the opportunity, not the will, has been wanting. And these sinful emotions will be
brought into the account in the day when 'God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil' (Eccl. 12: 14)." -Selected
Messages, book 1, p. 217.

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