The Kingdom Ethic

It's clear from the Ethic on the Mount (and many other scriptures) that Jesus wanted His kingdom to be a defining part of our lives:

• Redefine what gives you joy - not by self-seeking - but by relationship with others and God, and it's yours ( Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-26)


• Have a purpose in life, like light and salt do (Matthew 5:13-15)


• Give that purpose legs; put it into practice (Matthew 5:16)


• Exceed expectations (Matthew 5:17-20)


• Squelch anger (Matthew 5:21-22)


• Make peace with others (Matthew 5:23-26)


• Squelch lust (Matthew 5:27-30)


• Commit if you marry (Matthew 5:31-32)


• Keep your promises; don't "borrow" God's integrity by swearing (Matthew 5:33-37)


• Love your enemies (Matthew 5:38-43; Luke 6:27-29)


• Don't strike back; give back (Luke 6:29)


• Have perfection as your goal; don't settle for less (Matthew 5:48)


• Give for others' sake, not yours (Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 6:30; 38)


• Pray for God to hear you, not for others to hear you (Matthew 6:5-8)


• Pray from your heart your praise to God (Matthew 6:9)


• Pray for His will to be done, not yours (Matthew 6:10)


• Pray daily for what you need, not what you want (Matthew 6:11)


• Pray for a forgiving heart like God's (Matthew 6:12-15)


• Pray for His guidance and deliverance (Matthew 6:13)


• Fast for God to see you, not for others to see you (Matthew 6:16-18)


• Invest in the unseen and eternal (Matthew 6:19-24)


• Squelch worry (Matthew 6:25-34)


• Judge as you would want to be judged (Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37; 41-42)


• Share wisely (Matthew 7:6)


• Be proactive: ask, seek, knock! (Matthew 7:7-11)


• Treat others as you'd wish them to treat you (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)


• Think small and narrow (Matthew 7:13-14)


• You know truth by what it does; Jesus knows truth for what it is (Matthew 7:15-23; Luke 6:39-40; 43-45)


• Don't just hear; do! Build wisely on a solid foundation (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49)

It is an amazing ethic (Matthew 7:28-29) because of its authority ... the authority of a King who loves His subjects to death.

His death, not theirs ... so He could put to death what keeps them from Him.